Latest news with #SwachhBharat
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Karnataka Governor calls for mutli-stakeholder cooperation to achieve SDGs
'To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), multi-stakeholder cooperation is essential. These goals remain a primary focus, and we in the government have been working assiduously to achieve them at the grassroots level through programmes like Make in India, Swachh Bharat, and others in water, health, farmer support, and State initiatives. Bengaluru, known as India's Silicon Valley and a centre of science and research, is facing many challenges and stress on its resources,' said Thawaarchand Gehlot, Governor of Karnataka, speaking at the Bengaluru Sustainability Conclave organised by O.P. Jindal Global University and RV University. He added, 'It is important that knowledge sharing, cooperation, and information exchange help mitigate the challenges of climate change. The growing carbon footprint, pollution, deforestation, and other factors have led to a climate crisis, and it is imperative that we address these issues urgently. We need to inform and sensitise people about them. Our campaigns to save energy, water, and other resources are aimed at protecting the environment.' O.P. Jindal Global University released its 'Sustainable Development Report 2025' at the conclave.
India Today
3 days ago
- Health
- India Today
In tiger territory, LPG and toilet emerge as big lifesavers
"I feel much safer now. Because of an LPG connection and a toilet at home, we aren't encountering tigers or other wild animals these days in the jungle," says Pavithra S of Asthuru village in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar from Soolekobe village says an LPG connection has reduced her trips to the forest for firewood and, thereby, risks of encounters with wild animals. "Earlier, I made 10 trips a month to the forest for firewood. Now it's just one or two trips," the 30-year-old villager and Sooleke are villages inside the Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary. Both Pavithra and Govindamma have benefited from the LPG connection provided by Holematthi Nature Foundation, a Karnataka-based Maharashtra's Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural) have helped bring down incidents of man-animal conflict and casualties, say experts. Experts believe the same is unfolding in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand's Corbett Tiger Reserve and other wildlife forest officials, conservationists and wildlife experts tell India Today Digital how an LPG connection and a toilet at home have helped bring down deaths in attacks by wild animals, even as the overall toll of tiger attacks has increased in India, corresponding with the rising tiger population in the country. Under the Ujjwala scheme, the government provides free connection and subsidised LPG they narrate is how two centrally sponsored schemes – the LPG-providing Ujjwala Yojana and the toilet-building Swachh Bharat Mission – are scripting a success story in faraway forest there is a lack of government data, say experts, there is anecdotal evidence in government, acknowledging the impact, has ordered the construction of toilets on priority in villages within eco-sensitive zones in was after a request from wildlife biologist and conservationist Sanjay Gubbi, whose Holematthi Nature Foundation has over the years witnessed how LPG connections and toilets have helped save focus on toilets and LPG to dissuade villagers from venturing into secluded areas of forests is nothing new for foresters, and there have been state-specific projects as well. However, the Ujjwala and Swachh Bharat schemes seem to be turning out to be pan-India is indeed a silver has seen a spurt in deaths due to tiger attacks, especially since has been an alarming spike in May with 24 people dying in tiger attacks, against 16 lives lost in the same period in IN TIGERS AND TIGER-HUMAN CONFLICTS IN INDIAIndia has 3,682 tigers in the wild, which is 70% of the world's wild tiger population, according to the tiger estimation of 2022. The country has added 1,456 tigers since in itself is a turnaround poaching and habitat loss left tigers on the brink of extinction in India, which led Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to launch Project Tiger in 1973. India had just 1,800 tigers Tiger became a roaring on that, India, in 2010, set a target of doubling its tiger population by 2022, which it achieved by 2018 – with 4 years to the tiger population has increased, jungles have forest cover in India reduced by 92,989 sq km between 2011 and 2021, of which 46,707.11 sq km was lost inside Reserve Forest Areas, according to the Forest Survey of India. Between 2014 and 2024, tiger attacks in India resulted in 621 human deaths, with Maharashtra accounting for the majority of these fatalities. (Image: Getty) With the carrying capacity of forests exceeded, and human activities extending deep inside jungles, the incidents of human-tiger conflicts have seen a big rise. What has made matters worse is the condition of corridors, which connect wildlife habitats and have turned reserves into tiger high tiger density in these fragmented spaces could also be leading to fights among the animals over territory and prey base, forcing out some big cats into fringe areas that see more human to central government data, more than 600 people were killed in tiger attacks in the country between 2014 and 2024, an average of 60 deaths annually. Deaths increased after 2022, correlating with a growing tiger TOILETS ARE SAVING LIVES FROM TIGERS IN TADOBA, CORBETT AND PILIBHITShalik Jogwe, a conservationist and tour operator, from Maharashtra's Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, says that tiger attacks on people, especially women, have gone down since 2015 after the Swachh Bharat toilet scheme was implemented."Women in forest villages used to choose secluded spots to relieve themselves, which saw early morning attacks by tigers," says attacks can be prevented if tigers stay inside jungles and people can be kept away from tiger territory. That is what mitigation efforts are directed Tadoba-based conservationist counts four main reasons behind human-wildlife conflict in forest areas — farming, cattle grazing, minor forest produce (MFP) collection and open defecation."In Tadoba, entire villages would go to relieve themselves in the open earlier. Now, all houses have toilets," says non-timber forest produce collection for sale is a seasonal affair, venturing inside the jungle for firewood and open defecation was a year-round problem, he and ecotourism expert Imran Khan says that both toilets and LPG connections are likely to have helped reduce man-wildlife conflicts in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh by reducing the movement of locals into tiger habitats."Ninety-five percent of the conflicts take place within tiger habitats, which extend all the way into the periphery of the villages. Movement of villagers into high-tiger-density habitats either in Corbett Tiger Reserve or Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is the major cause of man-animal conflict," says Khan. A resident of a village inside MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar district with her free LPG hotplate and cylinder. A resident of one such village said the LPG connection had reduced the number of trips she had to make deep inside the forest for firewood. (Credit: Holematthi Nature Foundation) advertisementDECADES-OLD KNOWLEDGE IMPLEMENTED NOWThat toilets and alternatives to firewood can help reduce human-wildlife conflict isn't a recent Bhartari, a veteran wildlife expert and former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of Uttarakhand, says, "Toilets have been a priority for interventions since Uttarakhand's statehood."He says the allocation of four percent of the budget in the community tourism plan for Agora village in Uttarkashi district in 2005 emerged as the most beneficial investment a decade later."Toilets play a crucial role in addressing human-wildlife conflicts in specific locations. However, they are just one component of a broader strategy," says strategies, the expert says, include regularly clearing bushes along pathways, eliminating invasive species in village areas, ensuring adequate outdoor lighting, and proper disposal of food a state with high tiger numbers and tiger-attack deaths, has worked for a decade to reduce forest dependency in villages within and around protected areas. Jitendra Ramgaonkar, the Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife) of Chandrapur, where the Tadoba Tiger Reserve is located, cites Maharashtra's Shyamaprasad Mukherji Jan Van Yojana, which offers Rs 25 lakh grants to forest villages to reduce reliance on forests for livelihood, firewood, or defecation."There has been a big reduction in incidents and deaths where people going to collect firewood or to defecate were attacked by tigers and leopards since the scheme was started in 2015. This is despite a three-time increase in tiger numbers," Ramgaonkar tells India Today HAVE BROUGHT BEHAVIOURAL CHANGES AMONG TRIBALSDoddathayamma, a 40-year-old from Jayammanadoddi village in Chamarajnagar district, says earlier she would frequently hear of fatal attacks by animals, especially by elephants. Such news, she says, has become rare since villagers got LPG connections and Sanjay Gubbi of NGO Holematthi, which works with villagers like Doddathayamma, says there is a lack of nationwide data on these issues."However, at the sites where we work, we have scientifically documented an 85% decrease in per capita firewood usage after alternative energy sources were provided," Gubbi tells India Today forester Jitendra Ramgaonkar says toilets and the safety attached to them have brought about a behavioural change in people."Tribal people who earlier used to go to forests to defecate despite having toilets at home are now using the toilets after seeing that it is safer and protects them from being attacked by tigers and leopards," he might be crucial in preventing attacks by leopards in Uttarakhand's hill districts like Pauri Garhwal and Singh Bargali, Deputy Director, The Corbett Foundation, says leopards are often drawn to human settlements in search of small livestock and occasionally attack children."Providing proper toilet facilities can play a crucial role in reducing human-leopard conflicts in Uttarakhand," he says. Govindamma (L) of Soolekobe village, who received an LPG connection, and Pavithra S of Asthuru village, who got both an LPG connection and a toilet, say their lives are safer now, after the Karnataka-based NGO helped them. (Images: Holematthi Nature Foundation) WHY VILLAGERS STILL VENTURE DEEP INTO FORESTSIf villagers like Govindamma receive LPG cylinders, why do they still need to go into forests and risk encounters with wild animals?Both Jogwe and Khan, the conservationists from Tadoba and Corbett, say that though LPG connections have helped, the villagers aren't getting the number of refills as there is the question of livelihood through the sale of non-timber forest products like honey and tendu leaves. At times, villagers also collect firewood to sell in the expert Bhartari shares an incident from a meeting in Sankar village of Almora district to explain that there is no magic bullet for the issue of human-animal village meeting was held to extend support to Kamla Devi, who had survived a tiger attack in the neighbouring Jameriya village. Both the villages are in the buffer zone of Corbett Tiger women from the Rachnatmak Mahila Manch stated, "Hum jangle jana chhod denge; hum jangle se ghas lana chhod denge; par ye jo hamari dahleej par guldar aur baagh aa rahe hain, unka hum kya karein?"The villagers said they were willing to stop venturing into the forest, but what do they do about the leopards and tigers that are reaching their doorsteps?"There is no one or simple answer to their question. A greater understanding of the conflict through research, detailed planning, and site-specific actions is necessary to effectively address such situations," says conflict is a species-specific issue in sanctuaries that are all unique in their own way, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Small steps like providing toilets and LPG cylinders help in a big way, but they will need to be supplemented with site-specific action."Tigers have adapted to living with human beings and now, it is high time that humans too learn to live with tigers," says Corbett-based Watch
United News of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Cong resorting to falsehoods as Modi Govt's success grows: Dr K Laxman
Hyderabad, May 28 (UNI) Rajya Sabha member and BJP OBC Morcha National President Dr K Laxman on Tuesday evening lambasted the Congress party for what he termed as 'false propaganda' against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government's achievements over the past 11 years. Addressing a press conference at the BJP state office in Nampally, Hyderabad, Dr Laxman condemned Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's recent remarks calling Modi's tenure an 'undeclared emergency.' He asserted that it was Congress that imposed an actual emergency in 1975, while Modi's leadership has strengthened democratic institutions and preserved media freedom. Highlighting Modi's transformative governance, Dr Laxman noted that India has risen from the 10th to the 4th largest economy globally, overtaking Japan, and credited this growth to schemes such as Startup India, Make in India, and major infrastructure investments worth Rs 11.5 lakh crore. He said over 160,000 startups and 118 unicorns have emerged under Modi's leadership, creating crores of jobs. More than 10 lakh central government appointments have been made through the Rozgar Mela. For farmers, he highlighted the increased Minimum Support Price for paddy—from Rs 1,310 in 2014 to Rs 2,300 now—and initiatives like soil health cards, free urea, and crop insurance. On women's empowerment, he cited schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, 33 per cent reservation in legislatures, and Swachh Bharat, asserting that these initiatives have improved the dignity and participation of women in society. Dr Laxman also emphasised India's rising stature on the global stage, growing strategic ties with the US, Russia, Israel, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. He hailed the Indian Army's successful "Operation Sindoor" and counter-terror actions like surgical strikes as examples of strong national defence. He criticised the Congress and BRS in Telangana for engaging in divisive, dynastic politics, while affirming that the BJP remains committed to public welfare beyond electoral goals. 'Whether or not Congress cooperates, PM Modi is committed to the development of every state, treating all Chief Ministers equally,' he said. Senior BJP leaders, including Dugyala Pradeep Kumar, N V Subhash, Gangapuram Venkat Reddy, and others were present at the press conference. UNI VV GNK 1922
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Gen Z's verdict on India's progress is mixed. Are we listening?
India's Gen Z is watching the country's progress closely — and they're not entirely impressed. According to ET Snapchat Gen Z Index , while there is some optimism about areas like cleanliness, many young people feel that core issues such as unemployment, price rise, and pollution have worsened over the past year. The study, powered by Kantar, reflects a generation that is engaged and aware of national issues. Gen Z's views on India's development are mixed — with rising concerns about economic stress, safety, and corruption, even as some positive changes are acknowledged. The ET Snapchat Gen Z Index was mapped to record changes over a 3-month period. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Moose Approaches Girl At Bus Stop And Nudges Her To Follow - Watch What Happens Happy in Shape Undo Concerns on unemployment and price rise Among the respondents, 48% of Gen Z said that unemployment has worsened in the last 12 months. This was closely followed by 47% who believe price rise has also gotten worse. Live Events These numbers suggest that India's youngest working-age population is feeling the economic pressure — whether in job markets, daily expenses, or future career stability. Gen Z's concerns mirror current economic trends, where inflation and job creation continue to be challenges despite strong GDP growth in some sectors. Pollution tops the list of worsening issues Pollution is the issue Gen Z feels most strongly about. A full 55% of respondents said that pollution levels have worsened. This comes amid rising awareness around environmental issues, with more Gen Z individuals saying they are willing to pay extra for eco-friendly products or support brands aligned with environmental causes. The growing perception of environmental decline adds pressure on both local governance and national climate efforts. Mixed response on cleanliness Cleanliness is one area where Gen Z sees visible improvement. 37% of respondents said cleanliness has improved over the past year — a rare positive sentiment among other areas of concern. This could be a reflection of continued government efforts under the Swachh Bharat initiative and growing civic participation in urban areas. However, the overall response shows that visible cleanliness alone does not translate to broader satisfaction with governance or infrastructure. Safety and corruption still worry young citizens The study also reflects ongoing anxiety around corruption and women's safety. While exact percentages weren't detailed in the report, both issues were listed as areas where Gen Z saw negative or no significant improvement. The continued concern in these domains suggests a demand for deeper reforms, not just awareness campaigns. For Gen Z, social safety and transparency are becoming key expectations from public institutions. The last word The ET Snapchat Gen Z Index offers a snapshot of how India's youngest generation perceives national progress. While they acknowledge improvements in certain areas, they are clearly dissatisfied with persistent problems around jobs, inflation, pollution, and public safety. This generation is not just watching — they are forming opinions, asking questions, and expecting more. Whether governments and institutions respond to these signals may shape not just policy outcomes, but political and civic engagement in the years to come. For the in-depth report, click here ET Online
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Awareness rally, Swachh Bharat drive held at Duvvada railway station
An awareness rally and a Swachh Bharat drive were conducted on platform no. 4 at Duvvada railway station as part of an environmental campaign organised jointly by Duvvada Railway Users Association (DRUA), Vignan Engineering College, and Lions Club on Sunday. The rally was flagged off by Muthyala Naidu, corporator of the 88th Ward in Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC). Participants carried placards and banners and promoted eco-awareness, which drew the attention of passengers boarding and alighting the trains at the station. ZRUCC Member Kanchumurthi Eswar, DRUA president V. Jashuva, along with members R. Ravi and Kameswara Rao, Muralidhar Reddy and K.V. Subbaraju of Lions Club, students and staff of Vignan College, and Sundarmurty of Spandhana Cheyutha Foundation, participated in the event.
