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The Print
31-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
IAS officer who pulled off ‘green elections' as observer urges EC to replicate model across India
Now he wants to take the model to the national level. Lal, currently secretary of Uttar Pradesh's National Integration Department mandated with promoting unity and social harmony, had implemented the green election concept in Punjab's Anandpur Sahib parliamentary constituency during the 2024 general election, when he was sent there as a general observer. He later experimented with the concept in Anushakti Nagar and Chembur seats during the Maharashtra Assembly elections last year, and the Visavadar assembly bypoll in Gujarat in June, in his capacity as general observer. New Delhi: If the government is promoting environment-friendly practices across various sectors, shouldn't green elections also be the norm in India? That's the recommendation a senior IAS officer, Heera Lal, has shared with the Election Commission of India (ECI). Lal wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on 22 July, requesting him to look at his green election framework, which involves use of biodegradable material, waste segregation, tree plantation and other practices to curb greenhouse gas emissions. In his letter, seen by ThePrint, Lal also urged the ECI to issue guidelines directing political parties to establish a climate wing, ensure they comply with environmental norms during campaigns, and nominate eco-coordinators or ambassadors at the state/district levels. 'This model has been documented in over 90 pages (Green Election Booklet), with real-world data, visual proof, and testimonials from voters, officials and stakeholders. I am confident that with ECI's leadership, this can become a national movement for Green Democracy,' said Lal's letter to the polling body. ThePrint reached the ECI spokesperson for its view on green elections via text message but had not received any response by the time of publication. This report will be updated if and when a response is received. It's not that ECI is impervious to the issue. The commission has been promoting the idea of eco-friendly elections since 1999. 'The Commission has been urging all political parties and candidates to avoid the use of plastic/polythene for preparation of posters, banners etc. during election campaign, since 1999,' ECI said in a letter to general secretaries of political parties in August 2023. Lal, a 2009-batch IAS from Uttar Pradesh, told ThePrint that when he was an election observer at Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, he formulated 'green booths' designed to minimise the use of single-use plastics while incorporating sustainable material. Another important initiative under the green election model was effective waste management. To ensure proper disposal of waste material, separate collection bins were installed at polling stations and campaign events for recyclable and non-recyclable waste as well as organic waste. Other best practices included the use of digital platforms for campaigning instead of plastic banners and paper pamphlets as well as opting for car-pooling and public transportation during election campaigns and voting day. 'On election day, voters were given free saplings as a token of appreciation that were procured from nurseries of the forest department,' he said. According to Lal, no additional cost was incurred in sourcing these saplings as the forest department gave it free of cost. Also Read: India Greens Party takes Lok Sabha plunge & it's not afraid to lose deposits Global potential To push the concept of green elections nationally, Lal has released a comprehensive Green Election Booklet detailing his experiences, standard operating procedures, challenges and achievements. According to Lal, this concept has the potential to go global. 'The success of this initiative serves as a robust local model with a potential for global (Glocal) implementation,' he wrote in the booklet. Around the world, nearly 90 countries have green parties who identify the ideals of social and environmental justice as their main ideological plank. While their popularity is more prominent in Europe, they also have a presence in the US, New Zealand and Australia. In the 2024 UK elections, the Green Party managed to win four seats. Lal said that to formulate a plan and implement a green election, collaboration is needed with multiple stakeholders, including district election officers, police representatives, returning officers and other key officials. Also, engaging community members like bankers, lawyers, schools, colleges, and traders helps drive awareness about green elections and eco-friendly practices. 'It is essential to instill the idea of green election in the minds of the people, making them aware that eco-friendly practices would help in reducing greenhouse gases,' he told ThePrint. In 2019, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change also approached the ECI to ask political parties to follow sustainable practices during campaigns and political advertisements. The letter by the ministry urged the use of alternative options like compostable plastics, natural fibres and recycled paper materials during campaigns instead of plastic. In 2019, Kerala conducted its first green election when the high court banned the use of PVC Flex boards and other non-biodegradable materials as campaign materials. Candidates were asked to use paper materials and cotton cloth for banners and hoardings. (Edited by Sugita Katyal) Also Read: Once male bastion, Indian Forest Service is now only civil service with all-women national executive
India Today
03-06-2025
- General
- India Today
Man accused in rape and murder of minor girl sentenced to death in Chandigarh
Chandigarh's Fast Track Special Court on Tuesday sentenced a 41-year-old man to death for raping and murdering an eight-year-old girl in the city. This is the first case of a death sentence being pronounced for a crime in convict, Heera Lal, alias Guddu, was a neighbour of the victim and had raped and murdered the girl by slitting her throat and stabbing victim went missing on January 19 and a search was launched following a missing complaint by her family members. Her body was recovered from a heap of garbage near her home in Hallomajra on the intervening nights of January 21 and January 22, 2024. A post-mortem report revealed that she was raped and murdered. Following this, an investigation was launched and the girl's slippers were recovered from a neighbouring house, whose resident, Hira Lal, was identified the accused from CCTV footage and he was arrested in Bihar after seven to police, the accused had come to Chandigarh from Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh and was living in the victim's neighbourhood. A chargesheet was filed against the accused after further investigations revealed that he was behind the rape and court framed charges against the accused under sections 201, 302, 363, 366, 376, 376(3), 376 AB and 511 and section 6 of the POCSO Act and the court convicted the accused on the basis of DNA reports and other Watch
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
HCBL Cooperative Bank mgmt to appeal after RBI cancels licence
The Lucknow-based HCBL Cooperative Bank Limited management has decided to appeal to the union finance secretary, following the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) decision on Monday to cancel the bank's certificate of registration (CoR). The RBI cited inadequate capital and poor earning prospects as reasons for the cancellation. On RBI's direction, the Commissioner and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Uttar Pradesh, has initiated the process to wind up the bank and appoint a liquidator. The liquidator will take control of the bank's management, including its assets and liabilities, and will use the proceeds from asset sales to repay creditors according to their priority, Heera Lal, Commissioner and Registrar, Cooperative Societies UP, said. HCBL Cooperative Bank, launched in 2002, expanded its services across nearby districts including Unnao, Barabanki, Rae Bareli, and Sitapur. The bank operated four branches and one extension counter in Lucknow, providing telebanking, SMS banking, personalised banking, and general services to approximately 10,000 customers, a bank officer who does not wished to be named said. The bank's head office in Gomti Nagar was notably quiet on Tuesday. A few customers visited to inquire about the bank's operations after the RBI order, while bank officials held meetings to assess the situation. The bank faced operational challenges starting in 2015 when RBI ordered its closure under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. It resumed activities in 2018 but again suspended operations in 2023 following RBI directives. The bank was allowed to operate until May 2025, subject to review, the HCBL officer said. According to the RBI, the bank's current financial position prevents it from fully repaying depositors, and continuing operations would harm public interest. 'The cancellation prohibits HCBL from conducting any banking business, including accepting or repaying deposits, with immediate effect.' Depositors are entitled to claim deposit insurance up to ₹5 lakh from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC). As per bank data, 98.69% of depositors qualify for full reimbursement, with DICGC having paid ₹21.24 crore as of January 31, 2025.
