Ashwin Makhija

The current challenging times necessitate that the state must come forward with a pragmatic policy to ensure that everyone has timely access to food. A plan in this direction should include a variety of flexible options to augment the reliability of food accessibility. The key factor of poverty rate should also be given sufficient consideration while working on any such policy draft. First and foremost, the potential scheme needs to target at supplementing the government's relief packages so that the marginalized could, at least, benefit from this temporary aid. The second in this line should be a plan for contingency food stocks. These must be reinforced and prepositioned at strategic locations to avoid any uncertainty in future. Similarly, a provision of either food or unconditional cash assistance in both urban and rural areas would be highly desirable. In this regard, whatever the kind of assistance would be chosen needs to be sensitive to the needs of women who have assumed a ...

Add caption 1. Baha’i Founded by the Persian Baha’u’llah. Believes all religious leaders are manifestations of God and all scripture sacred. Nature and Scripture are the “two books” of revelation. Shoghi Effendi, Baha’u’llah’s great-grandson, noted: “Man is organic with the world. His inner life moulds the environment and is itself also deeply affected by it.” 2. Buddhism Teaches respect for and interconnectedness of nature; plants and animals are included in schemes of salvation. Gautama Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, and died under trees. Sacred trees are decorated and revered. Buddhism advocates protection, such as ridam in Bhutan, an annual prohibition on entering a designated mountain forest. 3. Christianity Teaches that all creation is a loving act of God and that humanity may not destroy God’s creations without the risk of destroying itself. St Francis was an early proponent of ecological stewardship. There have been statements by Christian leaders in response to the e...