SPEECH OF HON’BLE GOVERNOR AND ADMINISTRATOR, UT CHANDIGARH, SHRI BANWARILAL PUROHIT ON THE OCCASION OF INAUGURATION THE LAUNCH OF REGIONAL SUSTAINABILITY FORM DURING THE REGIONAL SUSTAINABILITY CONCLAVE AT JW MARRIOTT HOTEL CHANDIGARH ON JULY 29, 2022 AT

Good Morning Everybody!

It makes me very happy and hopeful to be a part of this Regional Industry Dialogue on Sustainability.

I want to commend UNDP and ASSOCHAM for arranging an event on such a topic, which is contemporary and highly relevant.

Historically as well as traditionally, businesses have considered financial gains as the measure of success.

However, now more than ever, we need to realize that the aim of any corporation, enterprise or economic activity in today’s times cannot, and should not, be limited to profit making. It has to be centered around people and has to take into consideration the planet’s concerns . In a world of rapidly rising inequality coupled with serious climatic changes, sustainability has become the key word. Businesses and organizations can no longer aim at profitability alone.

Friends,

Growth, social welfare and environmental concerns are not mutually antagonistic. Mother Nature has provided mankind with ample resources to sustain its material wellbeing and aspirations. It is only when wanton destruction of nature takes place due to unbridled greed for wealth that degradation exceeds sustainability. Unfortunately, this is what has happened during the last two centuries and we have reached levels where the very existence of human race is threatened. It is a different matter whether the responsibility of this wanton destruction lies more on the developed western world or currently with the developing economies. We will have to end any further degradation without resorting to self serving blame games.

Sustainability as we all understand is meeting the demands of the present to satisfy our own needs today, without compromising the potential of future generations.

We all know that the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the United Nations, are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. Sustainable Development Goals address global issues like poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice as well as other global challenges that we confront.

India is also committed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 as has been working tremendously towards this direction, with the inclusive developmental principle that is "Sab ka Saath Sab ka Vikas".

Ladies & Gentlemen,

In today's scenario, sustainability has ceased to be an optional topic in the strategy harvesting process for a company; it has become a medium to filter risks and optimize opportunities for growth. A clear sustainability strategy helps to provide confidence and reassurance to stakeholders that a company has a solid foundation for future success.

It is imperative for Businesses to strike a balance between profitability, people’s aspirations and sustainability . A Business or Organization that achieves this balance will not only ensure its sustainability in the fast-changing global world but also create a healthier and happier environment within and around itself.

Moreover, this contributes significantly to nation-building as firstly the company thrives and contributes back to the society by generating employment and meeting societal needs. Secondly, it will keep a healthy environment for its employees as well as beneficiaries who would enthusiastically engage in the furtherance of the objectives of the Company. Lastly, the Company’s environmental footprint would be exemplary for the other companies to follow thus creating a harmonious society.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

To my mind, the key to achieving this balance is to approach development and growth in terms of “holistic well being” rather than “hollow numbers”.

I was looking at the progress that India has made in the seven and half decades after Independence. From a population of 360 million, we have become an approximately 1.4 billion strong nation. Out GDP growth rate has gone up from 2.3% to 8.7% and our annual per capita income has gone up from Rs 7114 to over Rs. 1.5 lakh. The literacy rate has gone up from 18% to 77.7% for persons of age 7 years and above. The poverty ratio has declined from over 60% to about 10%. The average life expectancy has gone up from from 31.4 years to nearly 70 years. Food grains production has gone up from 45 million to over 316 million tonne. From a nation dependent on food imports to feed its population, we have become a food surplus country and a leading exporter of food commodities.

However, despite these impressive numbers, our ranking in the World Happiness Reports has gone down year after year, reaching 136 as per 2019-2021 report. This indicates a lack of holistic approach towards development.

Friends,

The quest for happiness is closely tied to the quest for sustainable development which is the combination of human well-being, social inclusion and environment sustainability.

A narrow visioned focus on economic development may have given us a good GDP growth rate or increasing per capita income but has removed our focus from the issues of environmental sustainability, social welfare, emotional and mental well being of our people. This has been the primary reason of our abysmally low ranking in the World Happiness Reports. Scenario like this, calls for focusing on people, planet and profits alike.


To my mind, the answer to this unending quest for peace, happiness and well being lies not in imitating the west but in focusing on the Indian way of life that celebrates “Santosham Param Sukham”, along with according divine status to Mother Nature, without being fatalistic and in consonance with scientific temper and rationality. It was this philosophy that the Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi had so rightly encapsulated when he said, and I quote, “The Earth has enough for every man’s needs, but not for one man’s greed.”( Unquote)

Ladies and Gentlemen, Economic growth is no doubt the prime driver of a country’s overall development. But the natural ecosystem and the people who make up the society are also vital for nation building.

Environmental sustainability finds an important place in today’s global discourse on growth and development. While ensuring universal access to natural resources, we must also promote its efficient use. Most economic activities depend on products and services provided by the ecosystem. In order to sustain the pace of economic growth, businesses must be able to operate without compromising the future capacity of the ecosystem.

Sustainable development is a multifaceted and multimodal notion. “Use and Throw” is not appropriate for sustainable development; the optimal approach is to reduce, recycle and reuse. We should evaluate the influence on ecology and the environment prior to any kind of development. There should be harmony in the social, moral, spiritual and environmental spheres. Without any of these principles, development is only an imperfect stand-in for advancement.

While the Central and State Governments are taking concrete steps in changing their policies and governance structures to meet the sustainable development goals, corporate are becoming more crucial in building sustainable resilience.

The private sector is assuming a leading role in guiding sustainable development internationally and nationally by working with the public sector and governments to address contemporary challenges in water, sanitation, waste management, public health, etc.

In India, large organisations are already moving toward implementing sustainable business practices, but small and medium-sized businesses are increasingly expected to invest in and use technical advancements that enable sustainability throughout their value chain.

Sustainability should be placed at the core of its business strategy. The sustainability policy should ensure and work towards innovation and collaborative approach among various stakeholders.

I reiterate, instead of concentrating solely on reputation and more profits, businesses should manage sustainability to enhance operations, pursue growth, and create value to their businesses. Reputation and profits will naturally follow.

For the Northern Region, including Chandigarh, it is advised to create an effective Environmental Management Plan that outlines environmental strategy, monitoring regulations, institutional capacity building, and financial incentives.

For the sustainable development in the region, there is a need for the industry and the Government with its different institutional bodies to collaborate for taking up concrete steps to undertake and implement identified developmental projects.

We need to usher in a culture of social responsibility in the governance of Indian companies. Indian business, by integrating social and environmental objectives in their operations, can make a positive contribution for the betterment of our society .

All our efforts should focus on inclusive growth, affordability, scalability and sustainability.

We need to evolve both institutionally and spiritually and we have to work hard, almost everywhere in every sector towards making a New India, the “ Sarva Shrestha Bharat”.

I appeal to the Indian Industry to be part of the sustainability movement and participate in true nation building.

Thank you,

Jai Hind.