Published in Dwarka Express on 13.8.22

While the nation is excited to celebrate the 75^th Independence Day, with fun and fervour, joy and patriotism, it is also pertinent that the rulers and people alike deliberate on the substantial issues that are conspicuous and showing threat to the very existence of the democracy. Indian population has surpassed 1.4 billion and the unabated growth coupled with the depleting natural resources is posing threat to the prospective future of the nation. While the life expectancy of the average Indian is hovering around 70, thanks to the improved medical facilities, one is still at a loss to comprehend whether the situation is conducive to the overall livelihood. The global warming is staring at every global citizen. In India, time and again, huge challenge is posed to environment due to the frequent changes in the acts that are ‘presumably’ against development. Whenever an environmental activist starts voicing his views, he is castigated as disruptor. In India has seen Guru Das Agarwal who has sacrificed his life to save Ganga. History has explained already how Bishnoi community sacrificed many lives to save nature. We also have seen rural womenfolk embracing trees to save them from felling. Today, thousands of cases are pending in NGT and other courts in one pretext or other to fight against the onslaughts to environment. In Karnataka, even the court verdicts to protect the eco sensitive zones (ESZ) are protested by locals. In Delhi AQI is crossing the permissible limits quite often. More than 16 lac people are dying every year in India due to pollution related diseases. It is high time that the states and centre jointly think of addressing the environmental issues. Water table is depleting already. Deforestation in the name of Infra development projects including mining also continues.  We celebrate all important days to emphasize conservation. For instance, this week alone, the world is celebrating World Lions day on 10^th August and World Elephants day on 12^th August. But literally we are seeing elephants that intrude human settlements while Lions population is just limited to Gujrat. We need to revisit the entire subject in the interest of posterity. The real freedom is achieved by doing all these. Freedom from all evils of the society is not achieved freely, it needs hard work and sacrifices from all concerned !