New Delhi, April 12: Indira Gandhi National Open University’s (IGNOU) Chair for Sustainable Development (CSD) has entered into a pact with the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), an organization under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, to offer programmes in the area of Environmental Impact Assessment and Ornithology.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by U.S. Tolia, Registrar, Administration, and Dr. P.A. Azeez of SACON, in the presence of Pro-Vice Chancellors Prof. Latha Pillai and Prof. P.R. Ramanujam.
The Chair offers a six-month PG Certificate in Environmental Management System Programme and a year-long PG Diploma in Environmental Impact Assessment and Management Programme for students in online mode.
The Programmes are expected to be launched in April 2012.
“With fast changing needs, we must have people for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). We are in a situation where we look at development at the cost of nature. Through the Chair of Sustainability Development we are sensitizing people towards issues which matter for the ecological balance of the country. Besides launching these online diploma programmes we can also look forward for activities like inviting students for bird watching,” said Prof. Latha Pillai.
She also cited examples of programmes under the university aiming at bringing environmental sustainability.
Dr. Azeez briefed about SACON and its involvement in research, extension and outreach programmes. He drew attention to the unorganized development in the country leading to unsustainability in natural resources exploitation and the role of EIA as a tool for sustainable development in India.
He also emphasized the issue of lack of skilled personnel for undertaking EIA and the requirement for offering such programmes.
The Programmes are being planned at a time when there is a major boost in industrial growth in the country due to economic liberalization and globalization, which is essentially following an unsustainable path by degrading environmental quality and depleting natural resources including the non-renewable resources which are finite in supply.
–IANS