Releasing a book, ‘Sacred Rivers of India’, RSS Akhil Bharatiya joint convener of Paryavaran Gatividhi Shri Rakesh Jain calls upon the countrymen to plant and nurture trees and save water in day-to-day activities
Shri Rakesh Jain speaking at the function in New Delhi
New Delhi: Joint convener of the RSS Environment & Water Conservation activity Shri Rakesh Jain said the Sangh swayamsevaks have started educating the countrymen about trees, water and curb the use of polythene. He called upon every countryman to plant and nurture at least one tree and curb the misuse of water in daily life. “It needs no elaboration that we cannot survive without trees. They not only provide oxygen but also help us from birth to death. Hence, it is our moral duty to plant and nurture at least six trees that we use in our life,” he said, adding that polythene are generating various critical problems in human life; hence their use must be stopped forthwith. Shri Rakesh Jain was releasing a book ‘Sacred Rivers of India’, written by Dr Amit Rai Jain on September 17.
Union HRD Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhariyal ‘Nishank’, ‘Jalpurush’ Shri Rajendra Singh, Shri Mahendra Kumar from Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh and director of Kitabwale publisher Shri Prashant Jain were also present. The function was jointly organised by the leading publisher of the country, Kitabwale, and Shahjad Rai Research Institute.
On this occasion, Dr ‘Nishank’ called upon all the educational institutions of the country to ensure that each student plant and nurture at least one tree and collectively make it a mass movement. “About 30 crore students study in our different educational institutions. If we motivate them to plant at least one sapling on their birthdays, we can plant 30 crore saplings in a year. Also, if we motivate all of them to save at least one-litre water every day we can save 30 crore litre water every day. If our students further motivate anyone from their families to save water, we can save billions of litre water,” he added.
From left Mohit Jain, Dr Amit Rai Jain, Shri Mahendra Kumar, Dr Ramesh Pokhariyal ‘Nishank’, Shri Rakesh Jain and Shri Rajinder Singh releasing the book, Sacred Rivers of India’ at Constitution Club of India in New Delhi
Dr Nishank further said they are very serious not only for tree plantation and water conservation but also to curb the use of plastic. He called upon all the educational institutions to take up it in a mission mode. He also indicated to include tree plantation, water conservation and curb the use of plastic in the curriculum.
Since former President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee could not join the function due to unavoidable circumstances, his written speech was read out at the function. In the speech, he exhorted the countryman to shift thinking from exploitation to rejuvenation of rivers. “We need to realise that our rivers are national treasures. For thousands of years, they have embraced and nourished us. It is time we embrace and nourish them,” he said. Stressing on river restoration, he said we should focus on fundamental river research to address the knowledge gaps that limit successful restoration. He also said to think of newer and more innovative solutions and concepts like the Circular Economy Model. He said the book, ‘Sacred Rivers of India’, reemphasises the importance of rivers in our lives.
Shri Rajindra Singh said the traditional water bodies of the country are losing their grace and existence due to growing industrialisation, urbanisation and carelessness. The entire country including young, old, women and the central and state governments should collectively conduct Water Awareness drives and ensure their individual contribution in water conservation. He said the book written by Dr Jain highlights the direly needed steps for protection of rivers and water bodies.
In the beginning, Dr Amit Rai Jain, while introducing the book, said he drew the inspiration to write the book from the call of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi who said to save rivers and water bodies. The book not only provides detail about our religious belief towards 20 sacred rivers of the country but also highlights the burgeoning challenge of pollution, which needs to be curbed effectively.
