Protecting human rights through environmental conservation stressed on World Environment Day

By Payal Banerjee

Bhubaneswar, June 6: The vital connection between environmental conservation and human rights took centre stage at a special discussion organised to mark World Environment Day in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. The event, titled ‘Environmental Protection and Human Rights’, was jointly hosted by Evergreen Forum and Human Rights Front India at Geet Gobind Sadan.

Delivering the keynote address, Justice Dr. Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, former Acting Chief Justice of High Court of Orissa and a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), highlighted how rising self-centred attitudes are jeopardising environmental efforts. “People often ignore how their relentless pursuit of material comforts negatively impacts both society and the environment. A balanced lifestyle is the key to sustaining a healthy planet,” he observed.

Justice Sarangi described environmental protection as a shared responsibility, urging individuals, communities, and governments to actively participate in combating climate change, conserving natural resources, and adopting eco-friendly practices. He also paid tribute to forest officers who sacrifice their lives defending natural resources, calling them the “true martyrs” of environmental conservation.

Dr. Padma Mahanti, DIG of Forests, Government of India, in her address, described a healthy environment as the “foremost human right.” She stressed the need to prioritise environmental impact assessments in all development projects to safeguard ecosystems. Cautioning against irresponsible mining practices, she called for post-mining restoration initiatives and suggested transferring depleted mining sites to the Forest Department for rehabilitation.

Human Rights Front India president Manoj Jena, who chaired the session, flagged the severe human rights violations stemming from unchecked mining activities and demanded urgent action based on accurate assessments.

Guest of Honour, environmental scientist Dr. Reena Routray, warned that Mother Earth is in distress, advocating for drastic reduction in plastic use and collective action to reverse ecological damage.

The event also honoured several green advocates, including environmentalist Dr. Bijay Ketan Patnaik, Mahanadi Bachao Andolan convenor Sudarsan Das, and journalist Rashmi Rekha Das, with the Environmental Justice Award for their contributions to environmental protection.

The programme was moderated by Dr. Mili Panigrahi, Vice President of Evergreen Forum, who also delivered the vote of thanks.