New Delhi: On Thursday,a new online project, Leadership Programme on Himalayan Ecosystems (LPHECO) has launched by Chair for Sustainable Development (CSD) of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), in collaboration with School of Extension and Development Studies (SOEDS). Leadership Programme on Himalayan Ecosystems (LPHECO) is a unique project for scientist and policy makers working in the areas of agriculture, rural development, environmental science and sustainable development.
Leadership Programme on Himalayan Ecosystems (LPHECO) is launched by Dr. Karan Singh, Member of Parliament. This project is for minimum one month duration and maximum six month duration at the EMPC Studio-II at the University. Dr. Karan Singh said that deforestation, population pressure and global warming are leading to glaciers which are disappearing and ozone layer which is depleting. There has to be awareness at the politician’s level and then the state governments should volunteer.
He said that unless there is involvement from Nepal, Bhutan, China, state governments of Himalayas and Panchayati Raj institutes there will be no concrete step taken towards their conservation. He also states that environmental values must be integrated in school syllabus in order to sensitize the youth right from the start.
It is essential to upgrade people’s awareness and concern through short educational programmes with objectives to advance scientific knowledge, to evolve integrated management strategies, demonstrate their efficacy for conservation of natural resources and to ensure environmentally sound development in the entire Indian Himalayan Region, said by V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU.
He also announced that admission to this course will be available to students throughout the year in four academic cycles i.e. February, May, August and November. Once the students were registered as learners they will be have access to personalized learning space. It includes self instructional material, related audio / video, slides, self check exercises etc. weaved in one platform.
School of Agriculture (SOA), IGNOU, Director, Prof. M.K. Saluja has also shared their views and focused on the activities of Development Chair for Sustainable (CSD). He said that, they started with one appreciation programme but now we have five of them. They are also developing programmes on Gender and Population, Bio Diversity, Sustainability Audit and Water Security which will be offered under the new emerging discipline ‘Sustainability Science’.
Leadership Programme on Himalayan Ecosystems (LPHECO) aims to sensitize and strengthen awareness about the Himalayan ecosystems in the context of Sustainable development, to link and evolve the linkages of livelihood and ecological security in the mountain region and to improve the awareness among the stakeholders about the impact of climate change and management.
Dr. M.L. Dewan, an eminent environmentalist has also shared his views and ideas on planting billions of trees in the Himalayas. Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, Member of Parliament, emphasized that leadership should come from young scholars to save Himalayas. He also said that from ‘Bleeding Himalayas’ it should change to ‘Greening Himalayas’.
Nehal A. Farooquee, Associate Professor, SOEDS, explained the contents of the course which comprises of four blocks. She also said that, it gives an introduction to the mountain eco-system, Himalayan livelihood systems and also addresses the challenges to the sustainable development. She highlights that the students can undertake project on any topic studied taking into account local field conditions.
