The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Sustainable consumption is the need of the hour, says Murli Manohar Joshi

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Monday, Jan 15, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Sustainable consumption is the need of the hour, says Murli Manohar Joshi

Special Correspondent

"It is cheaper to grow more food to feed hungry millions than rear animals"

POSITIVE APPROACH: BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi (left) distributing certificate to a student at a function in Chennai on Sunday. M.S. Ananth, Director, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, is also in the picture. — Photo: R. Ragu

CHENNAI: Sustainable consumption, more than sustainable development, is the need of the hour, and the basis of vegetarianism needs to be scientifically examined and adapted to this end, BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi said on Sunday.

Vegetarianism was gaining popularity around the world, as it promoted a positive approach to consumption with discrimination, he said at the presentation of the `Icons of vegetarianism' awards at a function organised by the Indian Vegetarian Congress.

Vegetarianism made economical sense too: it was cheaper to grow more food to feed the hungry millions than rear animals, he said.

Mr. Joshi was among those who received the award as part of the Congress' golden jubilee celebrations.

"Healthiest"

Giving away the awards, M.S. Ananth, Director, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, said vegetarianism had to be examined in its spiritual, psychological, medical and ecological aspects.

Research around the world had shown that vegetarian food was the healthiest, and vegetarian fast foods had to be promoted to attract the younger generation.

Awards given

The awards were given to N. Murali, managing director, The Hindu ; K. Parasaran, former Attorney General of India; Gulab Kothari, managing director of Rajasthan Patrika; Mrs. Y.G. Parthasarathy, educationist; Shiv Kishan Agarwal, promoter of Haldiram Foods International Ltd; Radha Burnier of Theosophical Society and N. Vaghul, chairman, ICICI Bank Ltd.

"Only choice"

Vegetarianism was the only choice if one wished to lead a purposeful goal, Mr. Kothari said in his acceptance speech.

Schools such as those under the PSBB Group run by her had taken the campaign for vegetarianism seriously and Karuna Clubs had been started to preach kindness to animals, Mrs. Parthasarathy said.

Tarachand Dugar and Vijaykumar Bafna, president and secretary of the IVC, were present.

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