S.R. Hiremath, social activist and founder of THE Samaja Parivartana Samsthe, said on Thursday that the environment-related struggle can succeed only when the local people raise their voice against exploitation. Spreading awareness on the importance of conservation of nature was essential to involve the local people in the struggle, he said.
Mr. Hiremath was speaking at the valedictory function of the three-day workshop organised by the Karnataka Sahitya Academy for young writers at Sakleshpur.
Nature could be conserved for future generation only when people had a meaningful relationship with the environment. “One cannot conserve nature or fight for its conservation by sitting at Bengaluru or some distant place. Local people should raise their voices against projects that are harmful to the forest aroundm” he said.
Referring to the controversy over Yettinahole project, Mr. Hiremath said that youngsters should take up the issue after assessing its pros and cons in detail. “Systematic approach can help us in taking the issue to its logical end. This is what happened in the case of mining in Ballari. We could succeed in our efforts because of a detailed study of the issue,” he said.
Senior journalist and columnist Nagesh Hegde, who was the director of the workshop, called upon the young writers to be responsive to environment-related issues in their locality and try to spread awareness among the local public about them. “Young writers can take up the issues such as minimal use of water, protection of trees or similar phenomena and spread awareness about them among the public,” he said.
Sakleshpur taluk Kannada Sahitya Parishad president Jai Bhim Manjunath, academy member Rupa Hassan and Malenadu Janapara Horata Samiti president Kishor Kumar were present.
