Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)
Mangaluru, Sep 23: "Our ancestors saved water for the use of the present generation, but we are wasting water instead of preserving it for the future generation. We need to rejuvenate natural resources. We use natural resources before they are replenished. There is a great need for social workers to spread awareness in the society as well as awaken the government on this issue," said Dr Y Lingaraju, director of River Rejuvenation Project, Art of Living Foundation, Bengaluru.
He was addressing a two-day UGC-sponsored national-level seminar 'Samprathi 2015' organized by the PG department of social work, St Aloysius College (Autonomous) in collaboration with PADI at the Eric Mathias Hall, St Aloysius College here on Tuesday September 22. The topic of the seminar was 'Education on building people's capacity towards sustainable development'.
Addressing the students after inaugurating the seminar, Dr Y Lingaraju said, "Previously there used to be a symbiotic relation between people and forests, but now its vanished. Villagers preserved natural resources. Later on technology advanced and drilling machines were used to drill for water. The forests were considered as the water banks. Nobody knows this but everyone is drilling borewells for water. As a result of this, open wells have dried up and water levels are dropping below the surface of the earth.
"Every person has his own boundary. Natural resources have their own boundaries too. Rivers flow only in those parts where dense forests are found. Today people have become greedy," he added.
Renni D'Souza, child rights activist and director of Padi briefing on sustainable development said, "Sustainable development is nothing but empowerment of people. Social service is also empowerment of people. These days people face lots of problems like social injustice, discrimination and so on. Social service begins with charity, welfare approach and development. People have to live a better life in a better society. We have to take up responsibilities, think and discuss what kind of society we need. Education makes one act better in society."
Fr Swebert D'Silva, principal of St Aloysius College said, "People who think about others and are willing to help society are special people. There are good people and bad people in this world. Great people give priority to others' lives. Great people always help the poor. Good people are those who are in the process of becoming great. Your vision, your goal is to see that society moves to a better path.
"Sustainable development means that it is an organising principle, supplying what is needed for future years. Many rich people in developed countries do not think about the future. We the present generation should think about the benefits of future generations' towards a sustainable life. To be a social worker is not at all easy. A social worker has to listen to abuse from society. Society is not good these days, but one must have the courage to face society," he added.
In his presidential address, Fr Denzil Lobo, rector of St Aloysius Institution said, "All of us have become greedy and we are exploiting nature. We are ruthless exploiters who do not have any limit. Everyone has to be aware of the consequences we will face in the coming years. Due to global warming the water level is rising in the sea. Everything will be washed away and no one will be alive. Consumption has to be replaced by sacrifice. We will be the reason for the dreadful living conditions of the future generation."