Indira Gandhi was born on November 19, 1917 was born to Pandit Jawaharlal and Kamala Nehru. She was the first woman prime minister of India. She held the office from 1966 to 1977 and from 1980 until her death in 1984. Gandhi was first elected to Parliament in 1964.
In her political career, Poverty and Environment had been the two most important issues always on her agenda. In 1964 as minister of information and broadcasting, she most importantly encouraged the making of inexpensive radios and started a family planning program. In 1971, Gandhi was re-elected by campaigning with the slogan “Abolish Poverty.”
In 1976 to control population growth, Gandhi implemented a voluntary sterilization program. As a result, adversaries criticized her and her administration in general. In not for the few unpleasant incidents, today India would not have faced the monstrous problem of Population growth and a deterrent to development and poverty alleviation.
About population growth critically she said that
In the aftermath of the Water Act, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi moved to enact a series of environmental measures. The Department of Environment, created in 1980, performed an oversight role for the central government. DOE did environmental appraisals of development projects, monitored air and water quality, established an environmental information system, promoted research, and coordinated activities between federal, state and local governments.
In 1981, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act was passedAfter her death during the Rajiv Gandhijis tenure as Prime Minister the historic Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, was passed by the Parliament designed to act as umbrella legislation on the environment.
She was the first Prime Minister to give serious thought to the whole concept of Environmental Education and awareness.
“I do not suggest that we should develop newly structured courses and curricula, but that we should introduce a new orientation to learning processes and attitudes. For example, an awareness of environment and the need for conserving basic life support systems like soil, water, flora and fauna, the need for population stabilization and family planning, etc., should grow naturally into the student from the young age. Since opinions are usually formed in the formative years of one’s life, teaching aids, methods and open door field visits should be so structured that living in harmony with the environment becomes a habit with each young individual”.
“Our environmental Problems are not a side effect of excessive industrialization but reflect the inadequacy of our development”.
recognize organizations The Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar, Instituted in 1987, consisting of a cash component of rupees one lakh, a silver trophy and a citation, is awarded every year to an organization and to an individual for significant contributions in the field of environment.
And also in her name the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) has also been established at Dehradun for the training of Forest Service probationers.
She was a great admirer of the might Himalayas and the beauty of Chinar and Deodar trees, once she had specially gone to Kashmir during autumn to be under the beautiful falling leaves of Chinar trees. Unfortunately on October 31, 1984, she was assassinated. For her love for natureand the Mighty Himalayas, her ashes were sprinkled over the Himalaya.
Her initiatives and next steps to protect environment and nature would be remembered for generations by the Indians and the world.
Desh Bandhu, Harjit Singh, Maitra A.K., “Environmental Education and Sustainable Development” – Indian Environmental Society, New Delhi, 1989
The author Founder and CEO, Geoecology Energy Organisation http://www.e-geo.org . Had done Ph.D in Environmental Impact Assessment and having experience in the field of Environment, Climate Change, Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and Knowledge Management.