Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Choudhary Lal Singh has said that protection of forests will ensure conservation of biodiversity and environment, adding that in this regard people’s participation are vital for this noble cause.This was stated by the Minister while addressing a huge gathering after inaugurating Ist Biodiversity Mela at village Purthu in Basholi of district Kathua, here today.The Mela was organized by the Jammu and Kashmir State Biodiversity Board wherein 25 stalls of various departments and locals products of Kathua district were displayed in the Mela which was highly appreciated by the locals, students in large numbers.
Pr. Chief Conservator of Forests, A.K. Singh, Director State Forest Research Institute and Member Secretary State Biodiversity Board Suresh Kumar Gupta, Director, Environment and Ecology O.P. Sharma, Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu, Roshan Jaggi, Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Deputy Commissioner, Kathua Ramesh Kumar, Head of Department Botany, Prof. Yash Paul, University of Jammu and besides heads of the department of forests and its allied department, district officers of Kathua district were present on the occasion.
The Minister said that God has gifted the state with natural beauty, adding that our responsibility is to work collectively for its preservation. He said the first thing is to make people aware about the importance of forests and biodiversity in our life followed by their practical participation in its conservation. “Every year thousands of trees are planted by the forest department in the state, said the Minister, adding that it becomes social responsibility of the locals to protect these trees. He said during past one and half month, the forest department succeeded in protecting forests with the active support of the people living near the jungles.Underlining need for expanding the ambit of the activities of State Diversity Board, the Minister asked the Members of the Board to work wholeheartedly so that the purposes for which it was constituted are accrued. He said that need to work together to conserve biodiversity to ensure the future of the present generation and coming generations.
Threw light on the celebration of International Biodiversity Day, Choudhary Lal Singh said that the day designed to promote the conservation of biodiversity and to ensure the sustainable use and equitable sharing of genetic resources.
While appreciating District Administration’s mission to improve the sex ratio in the district, the minister termed sex determination as menace against the rich tradition of Indian value system and appealed people to come forward and contribute their part for the success of initiative.The minister informed that some of the elements on their vested interests spreading false rumors and he appealed to the people to not pay any importance to them.Deputy Commissioner Kathua Ramesh Kumar while addressing the gathering said that Kathua district has hosted first biodiversity mela, one of its kind in the state which will help in long way to educate people and improve the forest wealth.Adding to this he appealed people to come forward to fight out against the menace of adverse child sex ratio which raised its head due to apathy of every stakeholders of society. He said it is women who can contribute largely in bringing a decisive change in the mindset against female gender. He said need is to make congenial atmosphere for female gender so that they can also achieve every feat. This is high time that every individual shall come forward to clean the image as Kathua is among 100 districts having adverse child sex ratio, DC added. He said district administration has initiated PAHAL: Ek Kadam Naari Samman Ki Aur, a dedicated mission mode programme to increase the child sex ratio by educating every stakeholders of the society. The need is to equate the status of girl at par with male counterpart as girls are in no way lesser than boys in any field, DC added. He said the declining trend can pose threat to the society as this imbalance can lead to the social chaos. he said that district administration endeavour is to take advantage of such programmes to promote its campaign of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao ( BBBP) to educate masses to improve the sex ratio in the district.
Director, Forest Protection Force and SFRI, Suresh Gupta highlighted the importance of the biodiversity and the steps taken by the State Diversity Board (SDB) for conservation of forests and environment.Earlier, the artists of Cultural Wing, Jammu included Jeevan Sharma, Vijay Anand, Kamal Kumar, Ajay Sharma, Bodh Raj, Ajay Kumar, Mohinder Kumar, Bunty Kumar, Sunil Sharma, Monika Sharma and Vikram Charbathia was presented colourful cultural items in Dogri, Punjabi, Kashmiri and Bhajans under the supervision of cultural officer Raman Joshi which were highly applauded by the present about 2000 gathering of the Basholi and its adjoining areas.
Later the minister distributed cash prize to the ASHA worker and mother of fully immunized girl child. Prizes were also given to the outstanding anganwadi Worker, winners of debate and painting competition on bio diversity were also felicitated besides uniforms and school bags were also distributed among poor girls child under BBBP initiatives of the district administration to motive and improve female literacy.