President APJ Abdul Kalam said on Tuesday that every citizen has a right to a clean environment and it must be ensured that the poor were not made to bear the brunt of environmental degradation.
Speaking at a "World Environment Day" function, he said "the Supreme Court has laid down the 'Polluter Pays' principle. We are a developing country and a certain percentage of the people live below poverty line".
".. It is essential that the poor alone are not made to bear the brunt of environmental degradation," the President said.
He said it was essential to uplift citizens "to the normal life with employment, habitat, healthcare and education which would have a positive impact on the environment."
Kalam also suggested evolving a method of extending the cleanliness drive to places of worship and said at each place, display of vows relating to environment could be done.
"Each devotee can take any of them as a thanks giving to The Almighty," he said.
The vows, he suggested, include, "I will activate at least one water pond in my neighbourhood or nearest village," "I will plant five fruit bearing trees in my neighbourhood and nurture them" and "I will keep my house clean and also make the street clean without dumping garbage on the street."
{{/usCountry}}The vows, he suggested, include, "I will activate at least one water pond in my neighbourhood or nearest village," "I will plant five fruit bearing trees in my neighbourhood and nurture them" and "I will keep my house clean and also make the street clean without dumping garbage on the street."
{{/usCountry}}Kalam said even if 10 per cent of the devotees took a vow and practised it, it would bring a marked change in the environment and enable people to have an enriched societal life.