Editor: last update 5 September 1999; asia; index
At 12 February 1999 Prof. Dr. Priya Ranjan Trivedi wrote me about the establishment of the Indian National Green Party.
At 3 April 1997 Mike
Feinstein wrote:
I do have a contact for the organizer for the Green Party of
Kerala:
Sugata Kumar
Uaradanandavanam
Trivandrum, Kerala 695033
India
Apparently this woman is very well known, so if you write to this address, it should get to her.
From: contours@pg.frlht.ernet.in
Date: Tue, 26 Dec 1995 17:09:51
Forwarded from Goanet
by Paul Gonsalves
------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- The country requires a Green Party - Ms Maneka Gandhi in Goa Asian Age 29th November 1995 by Pamela D'Mello Panaji, Nov. 28. Indians are increasingly speaking out against cruelty to animals. As a result, the Maneka Gandhi-led People for Animals group is now the second largest non-governmental organisation in the country. It's wonderful to see this kind of response for animals, said Ms Gandhi on a visit to a fast-growing branch of the organisation in Goa. By the end of 1996, there could be 30 to 40 shelters for stray animals nation-wide, put up by the group's 35,000 members, she said. In India, Ms Gandhi said, there are many serious issues afflicting animals, like meat exports, conditions of slaughter houses, the large number of wild animals and dogs being killed. "Besides this all veterinary colleges in the country need to be reformed. The moment you start talking about animal husbandry you are in trouble" she added. Ms Gandhi explained how India was becoming the "backyard" of meat production for West Asia, just as Brazil was for the US. This resulted in the country losing its food, water, soil, fertility and green cover, she argued, quoting figures. "Seventy five per cent of Indian meat is being exported, which is simply bad economics. We are killing off huge amounts of irreplaceable wealth she said. Ms Gandhi said it takes 11 kg of grain to produce a kilo of meat. "You are turning the gold of the poor into the mud of the rich she charged. "The way in which the government as implemented liberalisation makes it environmentally unfriendly. In Goa, landlords and businessmen could be seen making conspicuous efforts to offer support and donations to Ms Gandhi. One pledged land for an animal shelter. While here, the animal rights campaigner told local bull-fight organisers that they were violating the law by making animals fight for entertainment. Similarly, the shooting of stray dogs by Goa municipalities violated Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty Act, she added. Ms Gandhi refused to comment on whether Mrs Sonia Gandhi should enter politics or not or her unpleasant experience with corrupt Goan politicians while she was the environment minister. She hoped India could have its own Green Party. "Its an idea whose time has come," Ms Gandhi told reporters here. "Compassion is an economically viable proposition. When you leave morality out of economics, it rebounds on you", she added.
India is a federal republic. The Upper House (Rajya Sabha)
consists of 238 members elected proportionally by the State
assemblies and 12 members appointed by the president.
The Lower House (Lok Sabha) consists of not more then 545 members
elected in single member constituencies.
Lok Sabha election results: