More than three decades have gone by since we recognized the need of using the resources sparingly; for protecting the environment for sustainable development. We have had the opportunity to plan, design, test out and validate various strategies, approaches and experiments. We have enjoyed both short and long term successes. Learnt from our failures and successes. Gained the capacity to predict and preempt unimagined situations. We became much wiser and precautionary and the credit goes to our visionaries like Rachel Carson and Brundtland.

As part of this endeavour, we also created additional problems while attempting to overcome the existing ones. The recent episodes of drought and the fluoride contamination of drinking water sources in Madhya Pradesh, Arsenic problem in West Bengal stand testimony to the shortsighted planning and lack of holistic approach in problem solving. Ironically, the people of Madhya Pradesh decided to revive traditional water recharge / storage systems, which were abandoned way back, as part of the planned development through piped water systems. The rationale then was to eradicate guinea worm.

Quite naturally, we got mixed results...highly successful in solving issue-based problems. But we miserably failed in setting up institutional mechanisms with innate capacity to invoke large-scale response; to quickly adopt success features and customize to the local contexts. Though we could successfully demonstrate the benefits and replicability of sustainable production and consumption systems and methods; of the best practices; of the technologies etc., we failed to establish systems to address the nuances in different situations and thereby could not offer delivery systems for ‘intelligent replication’. It is easier said than done. These systems would require innovative thinking; to create greater understanding and cooperation among different stakeholder groups (residents, industries, administrators, educational institutions, financial institutions, commercial organisations, service centres, regulatory agencies, media etc.,); to adopt integrated approaches for decentralized planning, implementation and management; to build capacity to design and practice locale specific preventive Environmental Management strategies.

The ultimate evidence for success lies in when all this was to happen as a way of day-to-day practice, without any special efforts. It may be difficult but not impossible. Specially programmes like CLEAN-India, co-ordinated by Development Alternatives offers a platform for nurturing those thinking and decision making processes, local specific informal action networks and above all brings all concerned stakeholders onto a single platform using the power of the children and the youth. Unlike the conventional environmental education programmes, CLEAN-India goes one step beyond by aiming at field based, result oriented real time changes in the local environment. It is heartening to see the reduction in bursting of crackers on Diwali, minimization of use of plastic, promotion of on-site compost preparation from domestic solid waste, battery waste segregation, increased awareness on water quality, quantity and management issues and setting up of environmental management systems at the school level, etc.,

CLEAN-India employs strategic partnerships, participatory planning and implementation processes, besides triggering positive actions to minimize or abate environmental damages. This programme is designed to converge the efforts of developmental agencies and promoters of environmental awareness of urban, industrial and rural communities. The UN organizations that work closely with youth should strategically employ this aspect of youth power to catalyze local initiatives. It is highly appreciable if the coming Earth Summit recognizes the potential of such multifarious programmes and incorporates such models in future strategy planning. 

 
q Dr. K Vijayalakshmi 
       Manager, Environment Systems Branch, Development Alternatives