Caritas, AFPRO conduct conference on 'Mitigating Drought and Desertification'

New Delhi – Caritas India, the social service wing of the Indian Catholic Church and Action for Food Production (AFPRO) commemorated World Day to combat desertification by hosting jointly an international conference on 'Mitigating Drought and Desertification,' June 16–17, 2006, at India International Centre, New Delhi.

Chief Guest, Mrs. Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi, commending the initiative taken by Caritas and AFPRO to spread the awareness on limited natural resources and encourage its efficient use, cautioned the audience on the growing concerns of deforestation, drought and desertification.

Encouraging the implementation of rainwater harvesting for augmenting water resources in a world threatened by water scarcity, Mrs. Dikshit said that achieving an acceptable balance between people and natural resources while preserving the ecosystem has become the foremost concern of the Indian Government.

"Active participation of NGOs, civil society, school children and women can greatly help preserve the ecosystem and mitigate the problems raised by desertification to a large extent," the Chief Minister said, adding that people should wake up to the problems caused by non–biodegradable products.

Guest of Honour, Oscar Fernandes, Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation, said that while the challenged posed by desertification were manifold, novel techniques like drip irrigation system and rainwater harvesting will help bring waste lands and arid regions under cultivable zone.

Dr. Srikanta Panigrahi, director, Environment and Forest, Planning Commission, Govt. of India, delivered the keynote address, stressing the need for a policy for sustainable land use.

"Translating necessary policies and concepts into workable schemes is a challenge posed to us," he said, adding that programmes like capacity building, disaster preparedness and relief and rehabilitation are important.

A 'Green Book' was released by the Chief Minister on the occasion.

Church and NGO leaders as well as delegates from AFPRO and Caritas International attended the conference.