Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has advocated for a ‘sustainable green economic development’ model of growth in order to “mitigate the hardships caused by natural disasters and foster harmony and co-existence between mankind and nature.”
“To bring about sustainable economic development and inclusive growth, we must conserve our nature. We should harness nature in order to bring sustainable green economic development and inclusive growth,” a press statement issued by his office quoted him as saying at the 5th International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), at Incheon in Republic of Korea.
Gogoi said “emphasis need to be laid” upon rubber plantation, bamboo and cane industry, herbal medicine and aromatic plantation, floriculture and horticulture. “All this will undoubtedly enable us to improve our economic condition to enhance our GDP growth rate which will lead to happiness,” he said.
“We need to protect and promote our biodiversity, our nature to eradicate poverty, solve unemployment problem, to usher in green economic development which can foster harmony and co-existence between mankind and nature,” he added.
Referring to Assam, Gogoi said that the topography of the state changed after 1950 earthquake, leading to recurring floods and erosion caused by the mighty Brahmaputra, thus causing great hardships to the people of the state. According to him, that also resulted in gradual economic decline of Assam since then.
Gogoi cited the example of Bhutan to drive home the point that economic prosperity should come along with national happiness.
