THE WATERMAN of India, Rajendra Singh, known for his pioneering work in Rajasthan for improving the pathetic water situation there, said on Friday that proper knowledge of law could help save the environment.
Participating at the second IIM-L workshop on Legal awareness and youth participation in environmental compliance and enforcement’ at the Indian Institute of Management-Lucknow (IIM-L), Singh said he earlier thought that law created unnecessary hurdles in the way of those who wanted to work sincerely.
“Now, my understanding has changed. There were lots of cases against me for my struggle to improve water situation in Rajasthan. But now that people know I was fighting for a public cause, the law is helping me out. I think youths have an immense role to play in improving the environment,” he said.
Singh identified five kinds of people—bad, good but ineffective, opportunists, motivators and the guru—and said that the IIM-L programme directors Prof Dharmendra Sengar and Prof Roshan L Raina were motivators who were doing a great service to the country by taking up the environment-cause.
Prof Sengar, chairman, students affairs, IIM-L, referred to the study conducted by him during his stay in US and said his study proved that “participation is directly proportionate to awareness.
{{/usCountry}}Prof Sengar, chairman, students affairs, IIM-L, referred to the study conducted by him during his stay in US and said his study proved that “participation is directly proportionate to awareness.
{{/usCountry}}Judging by the response to this programme I can say with confidence that the necessary awareness would come among the people after these youths taking part in our workshop fan out across the country and act as environment ambassadors.”
He said there were plans to create about 100 such ‘environment ambassadors’ who would spread the necessary awareness about the role of law in protecting environment.
He also told the participants who have arrived for this workshop from various parts of the country, about the legal tools available that can help them in the ‘green campaign.’
Prof Sengar urged the participants to file PILs but cautioned that, “PIL should not be treated as a publicity interest litigation.” Prof Raina gave an overview of the workshop.