Indians give environment slight edge over economy

From Lalit K Jha
Washington, June 4 (PTI) India, one of the world's
fastest growing economies, is trying to become a green
economy, according to new poll that showed Indians narrowly
prioritise environmental protection over economic growth.
Bulk of the population, those who are getting by on
their present incomes or finding it difficult to get by,
remain more focused on the environment than the economy, said
the leading US public opinion agency, Gallup in its new poll.
"Indians living comfortably -- and less likely to
worry about putting food on their tables -- are equally
divided," it said.
Indians are more likely to say they are satisfied with
efforts to preserve the environment (45 per cent) than to say
they are dissatisfied (38 per cent).
The country's poorest citizens stand out -- those
finding it very difficult to get by are the least likely to
say they are satisfied with efforts, but they are also the
least likely to have an opinion, Gallup said.
Thirty-nine percent of Indians who say they are
finding it very difficult to get by on their household incomes
prioritise the economy, while 29 percent favour the
environment and many (23 per cent) don't have an opinion, it
said in a statement.
India is "at the forefront of some of the 'green
shoots' of a Green Economy that are emerging across the
globe," UN Undersecretary-General and UN Environment Program
(UNEP) Director Achim Steiner, said when the UNEP announced
India's selection as the global host for World Environment Day
this year (June 5).