**Executive Summary**
On April 29, 2026, Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla addressed representatives of Van Panchayats, Panchayati Raj Institutions, and Urban Local Bodies in Nainital to advocate for collective action in sustainable conservation. The address emphasized the necessity of community participation and indigenous knowledge in achieving ecological balance and combating climate change. Key action items include the development of a comprehensive action plan for medicinal plants and the escalation of local conservation challenges to the national level.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Role of Local Governance and Community**
* Empowering local communities and grassroots institutions is essential for long-term environmental sustainability and national progress.
* Van Panchayats are identified as the strongest link in India’s democratic framework, playing a vital role in both conservation and governance.
* Active community participation is the primary requirement for the conservation of forests, wildlife habitats, and the mitigation of climate change.
* Local communities provide critical "on-ground" expertise for managing specific environmental threats, such as forest fires.
**Uttarakhand’s Forest Management Model**
* Uttarakhand’s Van Panchayats serve as a successful global model for community-based forest management and livelihood generation.
* The "Jal (water), Jangal (forest), and Jameen (land)" relationship forms the foundation of ecological balance and requires collective grassroots responsibility.
* Women in the state are recognized for their significant and active role in forest conservation efforts.
**Integration of Traditional Knowledge**
* There is a call for a comprehensive action plan for medicinal plants, involving research, value addition, and integration with modern healthcare systems.
* Traditional knowledge systems, such as Yoga and Ayurveda, require greater focus and collaboration between Van Panchayats and research institutions.
**Policy and Implementation**
* While laws to strengthen forest conservation have existed since the 1930s, there is a pressing need to address implementation challenges at the grassroots level.
* Local bodies must act as catalysts to promote eco-friendly livelihoods and ensure balanced, sustainable development.
**Impact Analysis**
**Van Panchayats**
**Impact**
They are recognized as a vital pillar of democracy and a model for sustainable forest management that contributes to "Atmanirbhar Bharat."
**Action Required**
Collaborate on research and value addition for medicinal plants and continue mobilizing community efforts for forest regeneration and fire prevention.
**Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)**
**Impact**
These institutions are tasked with being the primary catalysts for sustainable development and mobilizing community-led conservation.
**Action Required**
Coordinate with government institutions to ensure a proactive approach toward ecological balance and address local implementation challenges.
**National Government / Policy Makers**
**Impact**
There is a renewed focus on integrating traditional knowledge into national healthcare and addressing the financial and technical needs of grassroots bodies.
**Action Required**
Take forward suggestions regarding financial assistance, technical support, and institutional strengthening provided by local representatives to the national level.
Key Entities Referenced
Van Panchayats: Community-based forest management institutions in Uttarakhand identified as a successful model for conservation, livelihood generation, and grassroots democracy.
Uttarakhand: The Indian state where the Van Panchayat model is implemented and which serves as the central location for the Speaker's address on environmental stewardship.
Panchayati Raj Institutions: Three-tier grassroots governance bodies identified as crucial stakeholders for ensuring sustainable development and ecological balance.
Urban Local Bodies: Grassroots administrative units tasked with collaborating on environmental conservation and mobilizing community efforts for sustainable development.
Atmanirbhar Bharat: A national vision for a self-reliant India, which the speaker noted is supported by the conservation and regeneration efforts of local community institutions.
Lok Sabha Secretariat
LOK SABHA SPEAKER CALLS FOR COLLECTIVE
ACTION FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION;
EMPHASISES COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND ENVIRONMENTALLY
SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE ESSENTIAL TO COMBAT
CLIMATE CHANGE: LOK SABHA SPEAKER
ROLE OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES CRUCIAL IN BIODIVERSITY
CONSERVATION: LOK SABHA SPEAKER
UTTARAKHAND HAS A RICH LEGACY IN ENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDSHIP: LOK SABHA SPEAKER
LOK SABHA SPEAKER ADDRESSES REPRESENTATIVES OF
VAN PANCHAYATS, THREE-TIER PANCHAYATI RAJ
INSTITUTIONS AND URBAN LOCAL BODIES IN NAINITAL
Posted On: 29 APR 2026 6:48PM by PIB Delhi
Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla today called for a coordinated and proactive approach involving all
stakeholders—government institutions, Panchayati Raj Institutions, Urban Local Bodies, Van Panchayats,
and citizens—to ensure sustainable development and ecological balance. He emphasized that empowering
local communities and respecting traditional knowledge systems are essential for long-term environmental
sustainability and national progress.
Addressing representatives of Van Panchayats, elected members of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system,
and Urban Local Bodies at Dr. Raghunandan Singh Tolia Administrative Academy, Nainital, Shri Birla
noted that Uttarakhand’s Van Panchayats have emerged as a successful model of community-based forest
management. He said that these institutions are contributing not only to conservation and regeneration of
forests but also to livelihood generation and the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
During the programme, he also interacted directly with the representatives and listened to their
experiences, challenges, and suggestions.
Describing Van Panchayats as “the strongest link in India’s democratic framework,” Shri Birla underlined
that grassroots institutions play a vital role in conservation and governance. He remarked that interacting
with Van Panchayats is akin to engaging with the most robust pillar of democracy and observed that the
experience of these local bodies is no less significant than that of institutions at the national level.Highlighting the intrinsic relationship between Jal (water), Jangal (forests), and Jameen (land), Shri Birla
said these natural resources form the foundation of ecological balance and human sustenance. He stressed
that their conservation is not merely an environmental necessity but a collective responsibility that
requires active participation at the grassroots level.
Lauding Uttarakhand’s rich cultural and environmental heritage, Shri Birla said the State represents a
living example of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. He acknowledged the invaluable
contributions of local communities in protecting forests and biodiversity, noting that traditions such as
reverence for water and trees continue to guide sustainable practices.
Referring to the historical context, Shri Birla recalled the resistance of local communities during the
colonial period against exploitative forest policies. He noted that since the 1930s, sustained efforts have
been made through laws and policies to strengthen forest conservation, while emphasizing the need to
address implementation challenges to ensure effective outcomes at the grassroots level.
Underscoring the role of local communities, Shri Birla emphasized that conservation of forests and
wildlife habitats can only be achieved through their active participation. He urged Panchayati Raj
Institutions, Urban Local Bodies, and Van Panchayats to act as catalysts in mobilizing community efforts,
promoting eco-friendly livelihoods, and ensuring balanced and sustainable development.
Highlighting the growing global recognition of yoga and Ayurveda, Shri Birla said Uttarakhand is a major
centre of these traditional knowledge systems. He called for the development of a comprehensive action
plan for medicinal plants in collaboration with Van Panchayats, including value addition, research, and
integration with modern healthcare systems. He noted that while extensive research has been undertaken
in allopathy, greater focus is needed on medicinal plants and traditional knowledge.
He also emphasized that local communities possess valuable experiential knowledge, particularly in
dealing with challenges such as forest fires, where their on-ground expertise is critical. He said this
reflects the true strength of democracy, where even the voice of the last person is heard and valued in
governance.
Referring to the global challenge of climate change, Shri Birla stressed that community participation is
key to mitigation and adaptation efforts. He also referred to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s call for
an environmentally sustainable lifestyle, stating that Uttarakhand’s Van Panchayat model can serve as an
example for the world. He further appreciated the active participation of women in the state, noting their
significant role in forest conservation.
During the interaction, representatives of Van Panchayats shared their views on issues such as forest fire
prevention, institutional strengthening, financial assistance, and technical support. Shri Birla assured that
their suggestions and concerns would be taken forward at the national level.
On the occasion, Member of Parliament Shri Ajay Bhatt also expressed his views.
नैनीताल, उत्तराखंड म वन पंचायत, पंचायती राज तथा शहरी नकाय के प्रतनधय के साथ संवाद
सुखद अनुभूत रही।
वन, गाँव और शहरी स्तर पर ानीय स्वशासन लोकतंत्र क सबसे बुनयादी इकाई ह। इन इकाईय के
प्रतनध जब आपस म वचार-वमश करते ह, तो कई महत्वपूण वषय का समाधान… pic.twitter.co
m/tNdZR9RBhc
— Om Birla (@ombirlakota) April 29, 2026
***AM
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