Transitioning towards new normal: Socio Story organises virtual session on future course of actions

In an attempt to take necessary steps to limit the environmental damage and commence the post-pandemic world with relevant actions, Socio Story organised a virtual session on Re-Imagining Nature- COVID and Beyond on June 20. 

The discussion of the panel laid emphasis on the future course of actions that are required by various stakeholders of the environment especially businesses to take necessary steps to limit the environmental damage and commence the post pandemic world with relevant actions.

With the theme ‘Transitioning Towards New Normal: Actions Required to Limit Environmental Damage’, the virtual session witnessed many eminent personalities sharing their opinion on the topic.

Padma Shri awardee and well-known environmentalist from Uttarakhand, Dr Anil Prakash Joshi advocated the need for introducing the concept of Gross Environmental Product (GEP) to indicate overall health of the environment in India while speaking during the online session which was organised on June 20.

“Hawa, Mitti, Jungle, Paani- Jaan hai humari” Dr Joshi said while adding that along with Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which indicates economic health, the country and the states should collect data on forests, water sources, quality of air and soil and measure the GEP to know the health of our ecosystem.”

Dr Joshi who is a botanist turned activist and founder of Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO), an NGO in Uttarakhand is known for his connection with the field and the capacity to address the environment issues. He stated, “When the lockdown was announced during the covid-19 crisis, it was observed that nature revived back. It took only 21 days to see the difference in our ecosystem. So, if we come together and work for reviving nature, we can make our mother Earth a sustainable one.”

Ramanan Ramanathan, Mission Director- Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, stated, “Since India is an agrarian based economy, the need of the hour is to introduce innovative and intelligent ways of agriculture without destroying the environment.”

Adding that a sustainable planet is required for progress, Ramanan, said, “The main purpose to set up the Atal innovation mission by the Government of India was to promote the culture and spirit of innovation and innovative thinking in people. Since innovation needs to be tapped from the younger generation, we have introduced Atal tinkering labs for school children where they are encouraged to bring out innovative ideas.”

He also said through Atal New India Challenge, the government promotes innovative ideas for products and technologies and provides funds to start-ups and MSMEs to grow further.

Manoj Pachauri, Founder of Socio Story, said, “The lockdown enforced due to Covid-19 pandemic has brought positive changes in the environment in terms of air quality, water quality and biodiversity among others. Post Covid-19, there will be a shift in the behavioural pattern of our actions on how we interact with the environment. We all need to come forward together to save planet Earth. It is not a responsibility of a single person but the entire community as a whole.”

The other panellists who were a part of the successful session include Akanksha Sharma, Head-CSR & Sustainability- Sterlite Technologies Ltd, Manisha Singh, Head-CSR, South Asia, Schneider Electric, Dr. KK Upadhyay, Mentor- Socio Story, Rishi Pathania, Head-CSR- UPL Group, Vijay Singh, Head-CSR- PI Industries, and Praveen Karn, Head-CSR, Spark Minda.

The session was hosted & anchored by Shweta Padda, an acclaimed bollywood actress & director.