The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Raja favours new partnerships for equitable social development

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Thursday, Dec 28, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Raja favours new partnerships for equitable social development

Special Correspondent

"National Environment Policy, 2006, seeks synergy between environmental, economic policies" Synergy between environmental, economic policies sought

SOUVENIR RELEASE: S. Ramachandran, Vice-Chancellor, Madras University (left), and A. Raja, Union Minister for Environment and Forests (second from left), at the inauguration of the All India Indian Sociological conference in Chennai on Wednesday. P.K .B. Nayar, president, Indian Sociological Society, and Michael Burawoy, vice-president, International Sociological Association, are also in the picture. — Photo: S. R. Raghunathan

CHENNAI: Pointing out that sustainable development could not be pursued in isolation, Union Minister for Environment and Forests A. Raja on Wednesday called for forging new partnerships for equitable distribution of technology and social development.

Inaugurating the three-day XXXII All India Sociological Conference, organised by Madras University and the Indian Sociological Society (ISS), here, he said the National Environment Policy, 2006, sought to forge synergy between the environmental and economic policies and put in place institutional mechanisms to support the integration of economic and social development and environmental protection. It was expected to usher in new models of partnerships, which required making the most of the knowledge, skills, perceptions and assets of a cross-section of nations and societies. Indian sociologists, he said, should work towards building a sustainable society.

As for the genetically modified (GM) crops and their advantages, Mr. Raja said biotechnology tools provided opportunities for improving food quality and production. A transparent, systematic and science-based approach should be adopted for assessment of biotechnology products before they were commercialised. Correct information about the new technology should be communicated to the public.

ISS president P.K.B. Nayar, who presided, said India which occupied a pioneering position in sociology — given the number of graduate schools of sociology, students and professionals and universities — could play a vital role in revamping sociology at least in the third world. But, Indian sociology was plagued by several drawbacks. Hence, identifying a nodal agency that could take up the mission was difficult.

In his keynote address, International Sociological Association vice-president Michael Burawoy said marketisation was spreading everywhere. Even the environment was being commodified.

"We face a real challenge", and sociologists should play a vital role in looking for practical solutions.

Madras University Vice-Chancellor S. Ramachandran, who released a souvenir, said technological solutions were needed to address environmental issues.

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