Man-animal conflict existential crisis for humans: Prabhu
New Delhi, Aug 12 : Union Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu on Sunday said the man-animal conflict was an "existential crisis for humans" rather than animals.
Pointing out that protection of wilderness and forests was a must for preserving wildlife, the minister said there was a need for optimising conservation efforts.
He was addressing a gathering to celebrate 'World Elephant Day' as 'Gaj Mahotsav', after presenting the 'Best Elephant Warrior Award' to late Mani Kandan.
Kandan, a senior Indian Forest Service officer at Karnataka's Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, was trampled to death by a tusker on March 4, when he went inside the jungle to assess the damage caused by a forest fire.
Prabhu acknowledged the sacrifice of Kandan and his family on the occasion.
According to the Environment Ministry, as per the 2017 census, there are about 30,000 Asian elephants left, confined to South Asia and Southeast Asia. About 60 per cent of the global population of Asian elephants is found in India.
Special Secretary Siddhanta Das in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said that if elephants were confined to one place, nature's linkage will be broken and pointed to the need to protect the habitat and corridors of elephants.
In 2010, elephants were declared a National Heritage Animal.
The day focused on improving enforcement policies to prevent illegal poaching and trade in ivory, conserving elephants' habitats, providing better treatment for captive elephants and reintroducing some captive elephants into sanctuaries, an official statement said.
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Kerala polls: LDF releases progress report, claims 97 pc of 2021 promises fulfilled
Kannur (Kerala) (PTI): As the Kerala Assembly polls campaign enters its final phase, the ruling LDF on Monday released its progress report, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan claiming that around 97 per cent of the promises made in 2021 have been fulfilled.
Releasing the report at a press conference here, Vijayan said that people have the right to know the extent to which election promises have been implemented.
Respecting that right, the LDF government has, since 2016, presented an annual progress report to the public.
"We believe that providing an account as a government is a responsibility. This report briefly summarises the progress of the fifth year of the government that assumed office in 2021," he said.
Vijayan, who leads the LDF campaign for the April 9 polls, stated that in 2021, 900 promises were placed before the people in the manifesto.
"Of these, approximately 97 per cent of the promises have already been fulfilled or have reached an effective stage of implementation," he added.
Kerala will go to the polls for 140 Assembly constituencies.
The veteran CPI(M) leader said that to make the common person's dream of land and housing a reality, five lakh houses have been completed through the LIFE Mission.
"Through this, secure housing has been ensured for lakhs of families," he added.
Vijayan said the government had focused on improving the lives of ordinary people, especially those who lacked basic facilities.
"We have worked to ensure that development reaches everyone, not just a few," he said.
The government also distributed land titles to over 4.5 lakh families in the past decade, helping many landless people secure ownership.
According to the CM, long-standing land issues in hilly regions like Idukki have also been resolved.
The chief minister said Kerala has made significant progress in reducing extreme poverty.
"More than 64,000 families have been lifted out of extreme poverty. Kerala has moved towards becoming free from extreme poverty, which is a rare achievement," he said.
Vijayan also pointed out that no other state in India has undertaken similar steps at this scale.
He said that to protect vulnerable families, the government introduced a law to prevent the seizure of their only homes.
"Financial support has also been extended to women, with over 16 lakh beneficiaries receiving monthly assistance. Welfare measures for the elderly and children in orphanages have also been strengthened," the CM said.
On the economic front, Vijayan stated that Kerala has created a more business-friendly environment, helping the state secure a top position in ease of doing business rankings.
Efforts to improve public services have also shown results, with lakhs of applications processed quickly through digital platforms.
Employment generation has been another focus area.
Vijayan said the government has made over three lakh appointments through the Public Service Commission and supported thousands of young people through self-employment schemes.
"We are committed to creating more opportunities for our youth," he said.
He added that in education, steps have been taken towards making degree courses free. Infrastructure projects, including highways and tunnel roads, are progressing steadily and are expected to boost connectivity and development across the state.
The Vizhinjam port project is also moving forward, with a target for completion by 2028. The government has also taken steps to rebuild homes for those affected by recent disasters, Vijayan said.
Highlighting the importance of social harmony, he said Kerala has remained peaceful without major communal tensions during the LDF rule.
"We must protect this unity and ensure that people live together without hatred or discrimination," he said.
He added that the government would continue working towards building a "New Kerala" that is inclusive, progressive, and aligned with global development.
