A new environmentalist to the fore

Rana Siddiqui Zaman | NT

Bengaluru: It often takes a shock to start something one already feels passionate about. In 2013, a Delhibased IT and marketing professional Prasanna K saw his child going to school, wearing a mask due to air pollution.

That made him take action. "I started asking people to be a little selfish for their kids. If we all look out for ourselves, we can actually save our own species.”

He had a plan of action. The first step for him was to make people aware of the environmental hazards, so he started a website called www.cleanfuture.co.in “to educate people about clean energy and organize events in smaller cities, providing industry leaders and influencers a platform to promote their clean energy products to the public,” says the 52-year-old.

The website is an amazing make on information about the ecosystems, renewable energy, pollution, and dos and don'ts on ecology in minimal words, maximum data, pie-charts, info-graphics, animations and lot of humane elements to draw attention such as Mahatma Gandhi's animated shots and his views on cleanliness, apart from others.

"Even if I am in a severe health state, I don't forget to update the website. I know when I am gone, this will be of help to someone passionate about saving the environment and not just complaining about it." Prasanna reasons.

This was not enough. He soon decided to devote his energy by working upon renewable energy.

“I decided to start my own business in the solar industry through a distribution network in Bihar, Odisha, and Jharkhand,” he says.

He played a significant role in introducing SunMaxx in India, a solar water heating product. He had been collaborating with the World Bank and Earth Day Network on projects related to renewable energy and climate literacy. “This came handy,” he adds.

However, there are worries that do not end for environmentalists like him, and there is little they can do for lack of funds from the government or private parties, “though they have been helpful with providing resources and assistance in terms of clearances and personnel,” he clarifies.

Environmental Performance Index There are more concerns beyond funds too. India, vis-s-vis other countries has lot to worry about when it comes to protecting the environment.

“In the 2022 Environmental Performance Index, India has been placed last out of 180 countries. Denmark, on the other hand, has been ranked as the most sustainable country in the world. The index evaluates countries based on their performance in areas such as climate change, environmental health, and ecosystem vitality,” Prasanna rues India's ranking of 180th, he says, is not unexpected, given the following facts.

“At the policy level, the government's focus is on eliminating existing environmental laws rather than reinforcing them and implementing new ones. Environmental laws like the Coastal Regulation Zone, the Wildlife Act, laws pertaining to mining in forests—all these are under threat. The government prioritises supporting industry rather than ensuring the preservation of the environment so, when it comes to deciding what should be prioritized - air or money - I always say, just hold your breath and see how long you can count your money for.

“While aggressively writing on environmental issues, Prasanna also feels wary of people who believe that they are saving the planet. They are mistaken, he believes.

“In reality, they are only saving themselves because the planet will continue to exist with or without us. Some people think that environmental change is something that will happen in the future, and they believe they will be gone by then. However, those who do recognise that it is happening now, such as large corporations, politicians, and policy makers, are often just pretending to care about the environment. If they were truly committed, we would already be seeing positive changes instead of constant reports of extreme weather events and environmental disasters.”

Calling himself a drop in the ocean, Prasanna feels seeking out ways and means to connect with more like-minded individuals who prioritise their childrens' well-being is the first step, because, “we may be the final generation witnessing the environment in its unspoiled beauty." One only tends to agree.