Living conditions in Indian cities are worsening by the day as harsher temperatures, pollution, green house gas emissions and frequent natural disasters impact people’s lives for real. It is obvious that the negative effects are worst for the poorest.
Misguided development policies mean concrete is being poured over thousands of acres of fertile land across Haryana and Punjab, the food bowls of India.
In the name of inclusive growth people are being given minimum employment in unproductive projects. The loss of civilizational structures is being compensated through subsidies and handouts.
At Lokmantra we believe a rejection of development that comes with destruction of nature and believe that only an innovative approach in pursuing green development is the only sustainable way of life forward. This approach requires individual empowerment of citizens at grass roots levels leading to new entrepreneurship and job creation through locally relevant innovative policies. Indian habitat and civilization cannot be saved through handouts from the top or mega-development policies that pour toxins into air and water. Every inch of land and every single individual needs to be nurtured. Earth’s qualities and every individual’s possibilities need to be preserved and nourished.
We believe that energy independence of small communities and small enterprises is the first step in this direction. But India must rediscover the way of life that sustained this great country through countless years. That way of life is fierce loyalty to mother earth and pursuit of prosperity in harmony with fellow humans and all creatures.
At Lokmantra we aim to pursue greater participation and informed constructive activism in Indian democracy. Indian civilizational values of sustainable consumption harmonious enterprise must rise from grassroots to become the policies of the land.
India stands to suffer the worst affects of climate change. But Indian civilization and the enterprising spirit of Indians also means this could be the greatest opportunity for India to achieve the new development paradigm.
After giving the original light of peace, non-violence and harmony to humanity India can now adopt an innovative spirit and once again demonstrate to world a model of sustainable living and perfect harmony with earth. This requires a perfect democracy where the enduring values of Indian civilization are translated into the reality of the land.
