Revitalization of Rivers in India Draft Policy - Isha Guru Jaggi Vasudev

Revitalization of Rivers In India
Draft Policy Recommendation
It is still significantly associated (protective) with lung/pharyngeal/
laryngeal/oral cancer, type-2 diabetes mellitus, bone-health, vision/
cataracts and micronutrient deficiency state.
A global study reported 74% of adults with low F&V consumption in
India. The per capita consumption of F&V is low in a majority (above 70%)
of population in developing countries like India. A detailed note on the
health benefits from consumption of F&V is provided in Annexure 18.
If the production of fruits on riverine farmlands were to go up,
there need to be enough advertisements and campaigns to increase the
consumption of fruits. The government can take measures to introduce fruits
in schools and anganwadis, for children and pregnant mothers to begin with.
FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF GREEN COVER 53
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service estimates
that over a 50-year span, a tree generates $ 162,000 in benefits – $31,250
worth of oxygen, $62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycles $37,500
worth of water, and controls $31,250 worth of soil erosion. Tree roots also
remove nutrients harmful to water ecology and quality.
MEETING PROMISES TO THE WORLD ON SDGS
India also stands committed to the United Nations’ SDGs 2030,
that lay stress on ‘leaving no one behind’. Since the SDGs break the silos
approach in policy paradigm, the river conservation and revitalization
policy will address not only SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and Goal
15 (Life on Land), but link effectively to all the SDGs particularly Goal 1 (No
Poverty), Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), Goal 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), Goal
5 (Gender Equality), Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), Goal 9
(Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure), Goal 10 (Reduce Inequality), Goal
11 (Sustainable City and Communities), Goal 12 (Sustainable Production
and Consumption), and Goal 13 (Climate Action). The outcomes of
the proposed policy will meet the above goals, thus delivering on the
promises we have made to the world.
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