Click to play videoNew Delhi: After tigers, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has now taken on the task of saving the Jumbo. Ramesh launched the 'haathi mere saathi' campaign on Tuesday blaming mining for the destruction of elephant habitat.
The famous song from the 70s 'haathi mere saathi' which called out for help from elephants was a huge hit. Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh appealed for help to the actors of the film to help save the jumbos on Tuesday while launching a public campaign called 'haathi mere saathi' - a meeting which was attended by 8 countries.
"We would like lead actors of the yesteryear film Rajesh Khanna and Tanuja for being ambassadors of this campaign," said Jairam Ramesh.
India is home to about 50 per cent or 30,000 of the world's Asian elephants but their future is constantly threatened as nearly half their habitat has today vanished leading to a rise in elephant-man conflicts. The Environment minister has blamed mining as the main case for the destruction of elephant habitat.
"The biggest threat to the elephants in central India is due to iron and coal mining. We need to find out a way of mining that doesn't harm elephants," he said.
But the same environment ministry that is talking about saving the jumbos has been on a spree clearing mining projects - one of the latest being the Chiria mine in Orissa that will destroy nearly 600 hectares of forests - also a vital elephant corridor.
"We are confused by the government. On one hand you are clearing projects and on the other hand you are sitting in this international conference talking about how to save elephants," said Belinda.
Last year, the Environment ministry had declared the elephant a national heritage animal to boost conservation efforts. But with the ministry is also giving in to the pressures of development. Will it live up to the 'haathi mere saathi' campaign or will this end up just as a campaign on paper.
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