Roshni Prachodaya Society and Confederation of India Industry Sign Memorandum of Understanding for Sustainable Habitats

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed today at Rashtrapati Bhavan between the Roshni Prachodya Society of the President's Estate and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), under its India@75initiative, in the presence of the Secretary to the President, Dr. Christy Fernandez. The signatories were Ms. Rasika Chaube, Joint Secretary & Financial Advisor and Honorary Secretary of the Roshni Prachodaya Society and Ms Bhairavi Jani, Executive Director, India@75 of CII.

Project Roshni is a green innovative concept encompassing environment management and empowerment of local communities, to create inclusive and eco-friendly sustainable urban habitats. The Society has taken initiatives in Solid and Liquid Waste Management, Water Conservation and Rain Water Harvesting, Bio-Diversity Conservation, Energy Audit and Conservation, Use of New and Renewable Energy Sources etc. Roshni Prachodaya Society has a mission to universalise Roshni, so as to fulfil the larger vision of the President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil - "To make all Urban Habitats Eco - Friendly and Sustainable".

India@75 is a grassroots and path breaking initiative of the CII for realizing the vision of an inclusive, sustainable and developed India when India completes 75 years of Independence. India@75 Peoples' Agenda document has identified seven themes including urbanization, under which there is a vision goal to have 500 world class developed cities in India, by the year 2022. Sustainable habitats are the key focus areas, for enabling an inclusive urbanization with emphasis on environment protection and conservation.

Roshni Prachodaya Society and India@75 as partners see commonality of purpose and an agenda of inclusive and sustainable urbanization. It requires partnerships with diverse stakeholders ranging from government to individuals, and community groups to institutions. More partners will be subsequently reached out for engagement by the Society and India@75.

In the first one year of the signing of the MoU, Roshni Prachodaya Society and India@75 intend to cover at least 100 establishments for sensitizing, catalyzing and implementation of 'Roshni'. Through the MoU the two partners have committed to collectively evolve a common agenda with tangible milestones for enhanced co-operation and long term mutual engagement towards developing sustainable urban habitats throughout the country.

The release issued at 1630 hrs