Giving big corporates free hand in Himalayas is not governance but pure betrayal

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat
The crisis in the Himalayas cannot be understood without respecting people's rights over natural resources. Denying people who have protected these forests for centuries, the right to access while giving big corporations a 'khuli chhoot to loot' is not governance but pure betrayal of the people's sentiments. How will the environmental protections or save the rivers succeed unless we involve people into them and allow them their traditional rights over these resources.

I interviewed Shri D S Pundir of the Himad organisation at his beautifully located center near Nand Prayag. I feel what he said was extremely important if we really want to protect the Himalayas by engaging with the people and communities.

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