SPECIAL ONLINE LECTURE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AT
PU
Vinay Kumar Sharma
Chandigarh
The Department of Gandhian and Peace Studies in collaboration
with the Department of Public Administration organized a webinar on the topic
“Covid-19 Towards a Sustainable Lifestyle” of Prof. Suresh Mishra, Professor of Public Administration & Chair Professor
& Coordinator Centre for Consumer Studies and Project
Director, National Consumer Helpline (NCH) & State Consumer Helpline
Knowledge Resource Management Portal (SCHKRMP), Indian Institute of
Public Administration, New Delhi, today via WebEx. Dr. Manish Sharma,
Chairperson, Department of Gandhian and Peace Studies introduced the topic and
speaker and other invited guests, faculty members, and students. Prof. Mishra
started his presentation by stating that COVID-19 is the greatest humanitarian
challenge to the world since World War II and it has been observed that this
disease is created and spread by the rich but the poor are the most affected
ones. And it has also changed the attitude and behavior towards the purchasing
and consumption patterns of the masses throughout the world. Greed has replaced
need. He discussed how COVID-19 pandemic is a trigger for taking serious action
and making policies towards sustainable development which is a combination of
both sustainable lifestyle and sustainable consumerism. He said that the
initiative for this must start with the students who can draw an action plan
for sustainable development and who can spread the message of sustainability.
Besides the mantra for this lies in 5Rs – Refuse, Reuse, Reduce, Recycle and
Rethink. He suggested an action plan for sustainable living with a focus on
changing attitudes, saving water, fuel, electrical energy, food, and the use of
chemicals. He concluded by saying that now is the time to reverse the adverse
effects of consumerism and that Gandhi is more relevant today than it was in the past as Gandhi
has very rightly said that “The World has enough for everyone’s needs but not
for everyone’s greed.” And Sustainable Development has to be with Sustainable
Production and Sustainable Consumption. In the end, different questions were
asked by the various faculty members and students. The webinar was well
attended by different faculty members of Panjab University, Chandigarh, and from
across India as well as from abroad. Dr. Bharti Garg, Coordinator, Department of
Public Administration, PU, Chandigarh proposed a vote of thanks to all.
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