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The
exhibition, “Environment and Development” which began on the
14th of November, 1992 was specially designed for children.
It also coincided with the 103rd Birth Anniversary of Late
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister. To
mark this occasion, the Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first
Prime Minister. To Mark this occasion, The Jawaharlal Nehru
Memorial Fund and the National Museum of Natural History
under the auspices Ministry of Environment & Forests
organised this exhibition at Teen Murti, from the 14th
November, 1992 till the 3rd of December, 1992 which was the
National Conservation Day.
Inaugurating the Exhibition on the 14th of
November, the Prime Minister P.V.Narasimha Rao expressed
concern over the systematic destruction of environment and
forests. He stressed on the importance of teaching
environmental conservation to children in their early and
formative years.
Organised in the gardens of Teen Murti Bhavan,
where Nehru lived, this exhibition dealt with a subject that
was dear to his heart - the natural environment - a world of
mountains, oceans, rivers, plants and animals. This is our
rich natural heritage, the protection and wise utilisation
of which are essential for the country’s progress and
development
The children were invited for an exciting
exploration of the inter-relationship between environmental
conservation and development.
Environmental degradation; deforestation,
soil erosion, floods and droughts, depletion of wildlife,
population exposition, over exploitation of natural
resources and pollution of the air, water and land are
maters of great concern for us today. The exhibition
provided information about the consequences of environmental
degradation, action plans for reversing this trend and the
way to promote and support the conservation movement in our
country.
The Indian tradition of love, reverence and
respect for nature was another theme highlighted in this
exhibition. Various action plans initiated by the Government
for environmental protection and conservation of nature
including some for the conservation success stories, was
seen into he exhibits dealing with the Ganga Action Plan,
wildlife conservation, wasteland development, pollution
control, the use of non-conventional energy resources,
low-cost development alternatives, monitoring and management
of water resources, climatic factors and so on.
The Development Alternatives pavilion was a
crowd puller. The TARA house was a typical rural set up in
an urban environment.
We at the exhibition were practicing what we
preach. Development may be described as the harmony that
results from proper socio-environment relationships. The
solution to the manifold problems we experience today lies
in the direction of alternative perceptions and practices.
It means the creation of new cultures and new technologies.
We had on display the ‘Balram’ mud block
press, a simple and rugged machine that compresses ordinary
soil with or without suitable binders into hard solid blocks
which after drying are effectively used to build low cost
houses, sheds, boundary walls etc. The TARA house which
used compressed mud blocks was an excellent example.
The Tara Loom, a carefully engineered and
versatile tool for the village of weaver was also on
display. It is capable of making fine cloth such as silk,
cotton and synthetic and even materials such as woollens and
blankets. We also had a sales counter which sold a variety
of fabrics woven on the loom.
A lot of inquisitive children and elders
crowded around the Vibrator when we gave a demonstration of
how to make roofing tiles.
Our
books, publication and audio cassettes containing songs on
environment and development sold very well.
Development Alternatives also organised an
Environment Quiz which received a good response.
The Nature Trail specially created by the
National Museum of Natural History, Provided a delightful
opportunity for a ‘romp’ around the Teen Murti grounds.
There were also interactive exhibits for childern and Puppet
Theatre.
The exhibition was a pioneering attempt to give sharp focus
to the subject of bio diversity and it’s inter relationship
with development, in a manner which can be understood by
all.
q
Vinod Nair Works as a
Communication Specialist,
Development Alternatives
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