“India could draw upon its traditional knowledge and experience to provide a new development model to the world, which was increasingly looking towards the country for solutions,” said Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat here on Thursday. Dr Bhagwat was addressing the gathering after the inauguration of a veterinary and agriculture college of the Datta Meghe Foundation in Ramtek. “We are not masters of nature; we are a part of it,” Bhagwat said, underlining the need for harmony between human life, animal health and the environment. Biodiversity, ecology, animal health and environmental conservation are essential for human well-being, Bhagwat said, stressing the need for a lifestyle that ensures the well-being of all rather than only oneself. “Our vision of life should be such that it is not merely about my life, but about everyone’s life,” Bhagwat said. He said India should offer the world a new model of development based on its traditional knowledge, holistic approach to life and self-reliance, emphasising that humans, animals and nature are interconnected.

 

“The world is increasingly looking towards India for solutions,” he added. The RSS chief said people needed to exercise self-restraint and adopt a balanced approach to development to ensure the well-being of humans, animals and the environment. “If the environment is not healthy, we cannot remain healthy,” the RSS chief said, adding that diseases affecting animals could also spread to humans. He also stressed the importance of self-reliance, saying dependence on others could expose nations to pressure and exploitation.“Self-reliance is extremely important because it makes human beings independent,” he said.

 

India’s development should also contribute to the development of the world, Bhagwat said, adding that every nation should work towards the welfare of others along with its own progress. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said climate change was having an adverse impact on agriculture and stressed the need for research, innovation and skilled manpower to increase farm productivity and make farmers prosperous. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said the Vidarbha region accounts for production of one crore litres of milk, compared with eight crore litres in Kolhapur. The expansion of the Mother Dairy plant in Nagpur will help strengthen the dairy sector in Vidarbha, he said. The establishment of agriculture and veterinary colleges will help fulfil the vision of promoting agricultural development in the region, the MP from Nagpur stressed.