From 8-10th April, 2012, dedicated scientists, environmentalists, scholars, and activists gathered together for the annual, solution-focused National Ganga Yamuna Workshop at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh organized by Ganga Action.
The three-day workshop was chaired and led by Dr. RK Pachauri (Nobel Peace Prize recipient and Director General, TERI), Jalpurush Shri Rajendra Singh (Magsaysay Award recipient), Dr. Vandana Shiva (renowned environmental activist), Dr. Vinod Tare (Coordinator of the GRBEMP) and many others. At the end of the conference a resolution was created to pave the way for the actions that Ganga Action and Yamuna Action will take to serve their common cause.
Additionally, on the morning of the 10th, all the participants of the workshop came together with local volunteers and community members, including the community of Prem Babaji (a well-known saint in Rishikesh and member of Ganga Action), in the Lakshman Jhula area of Rishikesh to clean the banks of Ganga, a continuation of the cleaning efforts that began one week before on April 3rd with Prem Babaji and his community. Thus, all the scientists, environmentalists, activists and scholars who had gathered in Rishikesh for the three-day workshop got to not only discuss how to find the solutions, but to actually be the solution!
Their collective presence was a testament to their commitment to work together as one global family, providing the hope and light needed to face one of the nation’s toughest challenges—the pollution and obstruction of the River Ganga. Pujya Swamiji expressed His confidence that with our collective and continual efforts to work together, we can and will surely accomplish our mission of a free-flowing and unpolluted Ganga.
Video of Pujya Swamiji’s intro and meeting points by participants >>
Video of Dr. R.K. Pachauriji’s speech >>
