New Delhi (India), April 15: Vivekananda Youth Connect hosted the second edition of the Vivekananda Sustainability Summit on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at the Dr. Ambedkar International Center, Janpath Marg, New Delhi. The event included a conference, expo, and award distribution program. The Honorable Shri Nitin Gadkari (Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India), Honourable Ashwini Kumar Choubey (Minister of State for Environment Forest and Climate Change), revered saints Sri Chidanand Saraswati – President & Spiritual Head of Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, and Dr. Lokesh Muni –  Founder President Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti were among the distinguished guests at the event.

During the ceremony, Sri Chidanand Saraswati was decorated with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to sustainable development. The event covered various topics related to sustainable development, such as Green Hydrogen, Himalayan Sustanability, its impact on the Indian subcontinent, EV Revolution, Wealth from Waste, Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture, E-waste, Spirituality, and Environment, Climate Change, and Youth Contribution to Environmental Conservation.

Honourable Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Environment Forest and Climate Change gave an inaugural Speech in the morning session where he stressed public participation in climate action.

Honorable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi extended his greetings and support to the event, thus echoing and resonating with the theme of the Summit. 

Shri Nitin Gadkari, The Minister of Road Transport and Highways said,“Swami Vivekananda is our icon. He once predicted that the 21st century would belong to India, which is now proving to be true in many ways. We all want our overall development, for which we need to work on ethics, economy, and environment. Ethics, for which Swami Vivekananda is our icon, and we need to follow the path he suggested, while our economy is growing rapidly. We are increasing our exports through various efforts and initiatives while reducing our imports. We are bringing many projects for the “Waste to Wealth” concept. Prime Minister Modi’s vision is to work towards carbon neutrality by 2070. The role of our youth is crucial in working on ecology and environment, as India is a country where 60% of the population is between 18 to 35 years old and can contribute to the overall development of the country.”

Dr. Rajesh Sarwadnya, the organiser of the event said – “The Vivekananda Sustainability Summit is an important event that brings together experts, policymakers, and leaders from different sectors to discuss sustainable development and its impact on society. This year’s program covered a wide range of topics, including Green Hydrogen, Wealth from Waste, and Climate Change, and provided a platform for meaningful discussions on how we can work together towards a more sustainable future.”

Rajesh Kr. Pathak, IP&TAFS, Secretary, TDB remarked, “We should adopt ‘For the nature’ approach instead of ‘Against nature’. I firmly believe that eco-friendly Innovations are the way forward. TDB is prepared to play a pivotal role in such sustainable initiatives.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed to Swami Chidanand Saraswati Ji, President of Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India. Other notable award recipients include ABIR Infrastructure Projects Ltd. for their adoption of eco-friendly techniques in tunneling, and the cultural sustainability awardees Babu Lal Chhipa and Bhanwari Devi, hand block print artisans from Bagru Print in Rajasthan, India. 

Additionally, the following individuals and organizations were honoured with the Vivekananda Sustainability Award 2023: Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti, Switch Mobility Ltd for the Switch EiV 22 Electric Double Decker Bus, Shashi Prabhu & Associates for the designing work of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial in Indu Mill, Dadar-Mumbai, the Horticulture Department of NDMC, Hans Raj College at the University of Delhi, Rishihood University in Sonipat, Haryana, DAV Public School in Pushpanjali Enclave, and Delhi Public School in Greater Faridabad. 

Mr. Sonam Wangchuk Ladakh, Founder of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, and Dr. Narhari Banger IAS, Director General of the Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Department in Haryana, Panchkula, were also bestowed the Vivekananda Sustainability Award.

The program brought together environmentalists, students, intellectuals, scientists, experts, politicians, and individuals related to the social sector from all over the country to engage in meaningful discussions on sustainable development. The Vivekananda Sustainability Summit was completely free of cost, and its success has set a positive tone for future events focused on sustainability.

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