Launch of Green Manifesto for Tamil Nadu

‘People’s Coalition for Green Tamil Nadu’ launches ‘Green Manifesto’ 

 This independent, non-partisan coalition consists of a wide-ranging group of individuals, Civil Society Organisations, Community Based Organisations, Think Tanks, Workers’ Unions and others who came together to identify the issues in environmental governance and sustainable development.

This Initiative of mooting Green agenda in election manifesto was jointly taken up Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore, Earth Smiles, Chennai and People’s Action for Development, Vembar. Now there are many organisations and networks that are part of this endeavour.

The coalition is launching a ‘Green Manifesto’ urging ALL political parties to take up ‘green agenda’ in their respective election manifestos. The Green Manifesto is aimed at productively engaging the political establishment, urging them to step up to the people’s needs and pave the way for a greener future.

In the past one decade, India has been witnessing unprecedented rates of growth and economic development. This has often been achieved at the cost of environmental degradation, large scale pollution and a complete disregard to our country’s depleting natural resources. It is high time that the policy makers paid more attention towards conservation and effective utilisation of the available resources.

The Green manifesto sets the tone for green governance agenda. Thematic salient issues are listed as follows:   

(a) Promoting sustainable Agriculture- Issues such as shrinking land-human ratio, climate change impact, organic farming, need to preserve indigenous knowledge systems, water management, check on corporatisation of agriculture and GM crops, harmful impacts of chemical fertilizers are covered.

(b) Protecting the Coast- Need to revisit CRZ 1991, bio-conservation of marine parks, community participation in coastal zone management authorities, safe and sustainable fishing practices, protecting the customary rights of fishing communities, preventing pollution in to sea, bio-shield promotion, prevention of mineral mining near coast,  etc.

(c) Making Cities greener and cleaner- Integrated public transport, green transport, bicycle promotion, vehicle pollution control, solar energy for buildings, Ecosan toilets, energy efficient practices, ban on plastics, etc.

(d) Green industrial development-Tax holidays and subsidies to industries to be removed, strict compliance to EIA, PCB to be more accountable and transparent, comprehensive disaster management plan with off-site details, comprehensive community centric rehabilitation and resettlement, CSR with environmental concerns.

(e) Conserving forest and tribal rights- Community participatory forest management, afforestation programmes to be strengthened, etc.

(f)   Fostering an alliance for Green future – promoting organic food, environmental studies to be enhanced in educational system, better seed banks at district levels, multi crop agricultural and plantation system, minimal carbon/ ecological foot prints in developmental activities.

The Coalition wishes to monitor the incorporation of green agenda in political parties’ election manifestos and election process. Even in post-election scenario it intends to promote green governance in all facets of development and broader governance.