In the year 1859, the world was consumed in evolutionary ideas with the publication of Origin of Species by Charles Darwin, without any consciousness of the creeping environmental, existential fears, and in less than two hundred years the planet is dwelling in the depths of the reality of extinction of species.
The UN scientific conference, popularly called the first Earth summit 1972, held in Stockholm, Sweden, was the first focused recognition by the international community of the unmindful, unsustainable growth and development pursued by human race, and its emerging environmental consequences. The blatant depletion of forest cover, heedless exploitation of non renewable natural resources and reckless industrialisation has exposed us, our future generations, every living species, every ecosystem and the entire planet to the dangers of poisonous pollution, climate change, global warming, habitat destruction, species extinction, desertification, natural disasters, rising sea levels, polar meltdown, changing rainfall patterns, erratic cropping patterns, climate induced migrations, waste islands, genetic mutations, scarcity of finite natural recourses, political discords, anthropological disturbances and much more.
Solutions are nationally determined emission cuts, increasing forest cover, circular economy, renewable sources of energy and many more and are all long term and require larger vision and continuing efforts. Labours of the International community in UNFCCC and many other agencies, demand the convergence of societal, organisational and individual efforts, however magnanimous, however small. Together, they are one more step towards the rectification of the largest of human errors and a sustainable future.
With this intention at heart, IICD on August 7th 2019 went on a green drive. Forests are one of the most significant carbon sinks after oceans. Trees not only absorb carbon dioxide and help combat pollution and global warming, but also help in mitigation of natural disasters like tsunami and tropical cyclones by acting as efficient barriers in coastal ecosystems (e.g. Mangroves), landslides in hilly terrains by combating soil erosion, secure natural habitats for all kinds of live creatures.
Hailing the motto of save earth save all, in the Silver jubilee year of its foundation, a humble initiative of tree plantation was materialised at IICD, under the guidance of Professor Meenakshi Singh. Smt. Madhu Neotia, Chair person IICD, inaugurated the occasion with the plantation of a mango tree. Also gracing the occasion was the presence of Smt. Rathi Vinay Jha, Chairperson Academic Council, IICD, Shri M.L. Gupta, respected Governing Council member, Shri Alok, Principal secretary, Department of MSME, Govt. Of Rajasthan, and visionary Dr. Toolika Gupta, Director IICD, Jaipur.
Thirty-three fruit trees were planted across the campus, and were adopted by students, staff and faculty members as care givers. The ethos of IICD is drenched in the spirit of sustainability, as crafts by the very virtue of their character are sustainable. With each rising dawn the Institute is committing itself more and more towards this ideal through initiatives like organic farming and tree plantation on one hand and by orienting the complete course structure to align it with the principle, on other.
These are the humble beginnings of an increasingly aware and more responsible way of thought and education, which is better prepared to integrate with the global environmental empathy and consciousness.
