Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16: Minister of State for Education, Technical Education, Culture, Tourism, Horticulture, Floriculture and Parks, Priya Sethi today called for greater participation of civil society, especially womenfolk who can act as motivators to act against environmental degradation and encroachments of the forests.
Speaking during a function held at Press Club in remembrance of Bird Watcher, Naturalist, Environmentalist and noted educationist, Master Samsar Chand Kaul, (1883-1977), the Minister stressed on the need to generate mass awareness regarding various aspects of man-animal conflict across the State.
The Minister urged authorities to devise a plan for sensitizing the people about the different methodologies of animal attacks, besides suggesting protective measures for saving their lives. She also said that such awareness campaigns should particularly be carried out in those areas where such incidents of animal attacks happen frequently. “Unless the people are not sensitized, the graph of man-animal conflict cannot be reduced,” she added.
Recalling Master Samsar Chand Kaul’s contribution in environment and ecology, she said that people like him would continue to guide the society and coming generations in environment protection movement. The Minister said that Government is working on making some comprehensive policies over protecting and preserving the forests and wildlife across the State. The Minister said that a mechanism should be devised to get a wild bird rescue centre that will provide medical care to inured birds.
BJP State Vice-President Yudhvir Sethi was also present in the function.