This is why governments are now trying to work on One Health – a concept that links ecosystem protection, good animal husbandry practices and public health to create an approach towards healthy Nature and wildlife.
Those who have access to power and resources, in the guise of following protective norms, may demonstrate behaviours, that knowingly or unknowingly, perpetuate bias and prejudice. Institutions need to step in and step up efforts to bridge the inequalities that have become even more glaring in the corona pandemic.
As much as one wishes to forget 2020, it may not be that easy, since many historic weather events have been recorded this year.
This year has been replete with challenges. Many people have had to fend for themselves and done chores they have never done before. It has therefore been a year of a great learning curve. Here are three life lessons learnt from the pandemic.
The pandemic has thrown many challenges, none more perplexing than the planning of an Indian wedding that is all about bear hugs, holding hands and crowding around.
For the first time, captive-bred White-backed vultures have been released in the wild. This is a big step towards turning the clock back on extinction- and then, in rewilding India.
The government says the new farm acts will be beneficial to small and marginal farmers. But, in reality, APMC mandis and MSP have offered protection to this category of farmers, who make up almost 85 per cent of the farming community in India.
When will the current farmers’ agitation end? Where will this protest on the roads reach? And why does it remind one of the farmers’ agitation led by Chaudhary Mahendra Singh Tikait in 1988 and 1989?
A lazy afternoon, by the waterbody spent watching buffalos soaking in the sun and spotting birds that had flown in all the way from foreign lands. There were lessons to be learnt that day under the blue skies and the silent companions.
Rural India deals with harsh realities such as starvation and lack of access to healthcare. They have to be factored in too as India gears up for a gigantic COVID-19 vaccination programme.