A two days international seminar on ‘Environment, Energy, and Health: Emerging Challenges and Policies’ organized by Department of Economics in collaboration with the Indian Social Science Academy begins today at the University of Jammu.  In the inaugural function, Prof. Naresh Padha, the Dean Academic Affairs was the Chief Guest, while Prof. Jasbir Singh, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences was the Guest of Honour. The Key Note speech was delivered by Prof. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, former Professor at Punjab School of Economics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. The seminar coordinator Prof. Falendra K. Sudan briefed about the seminar goals, while Dr. Shallu Sehgal presented the welcome remarks and Prof. Aroon Sharma, Head of the Department presented the vote of thanks. 

Prof. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon emphasized on the significance of energy transition for clean environmental mechanisms, and robust health of the people for which financial assistance from developed countries including international financial institutions become imperative to help millions of poor masses to move out of energy poverty. Prof. Jasbir Singh advocated the stronger application of data and use of statistical and econometrical modelling for developing evidence based sound policies focusing on environment, energy and health issues. Prof. Naresh Padha emphasized on pollution generations from both the production and consumption activities and even technology generation also causes pollution. Therefore the policies should be focused on innovative development of pollution free technologies. He also suggested disseminating the outcomes of the seminar through publication in journals and books for wider use by the government and researchers alike. 

In the subsequent before lunch sessions of the seminar, a total of fourteen well researched papers on topics such as Fossil Fuel, Renewable Energy, Environmental Sustainability, Expenditure on Consumption of Power and State Finances in Jammu & Kashmir, Health and Environmental Conditions of Primitive Tribes in Jharkhand, Deforestation and Fuelwood Harvesting, Domestic Fuel Consumption in Punjab, Tourism and Environment of Katra, Climate Change, Energy Insecurity and Consequences, Solid Waste Management in Jammu City, Health Status of Working Women in Jammu District, Climate Change and Sustainable Rural Livelihoods, Climate Change and Hydro Power Generation in Himalayan Region, Health Status and Tuberculosis in Kathua District, Technical Efficiency of Primary Health Centres in India, and CSR & Environmental Justice. The main speakers include Dr. Subah Singh Yadav, Prof. Aswini Kumar Nanda, Dr. Om Raj Katoch, Prof. Sarita Parihar, Ms. Prabhjot Kaur, Prof. Ahsan Ahmed, Dr. Virender Koundal, Ms. Rinnie Mahajan, Prof. Sunita Devi, Ms. Harleen Kour, and Ms. Sukhleen Kour.

In the afternoon, papers on Climate Change and its Impact on Horticulture and Agriculture Crops in Cold Desert Area of Nubra Valley of Ladakh, Deforestation and Fuelwood Harvesting, Energy-Use and Economic Growth in India, Water and Energy Sharing between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Environment and Sustainable Energy Ecosystem, Environment Issues in Rural India, Organic Farming for Sustainable Agriculture Development in Kathua District, Sustainable Recovery and Policies to Address Future Shocks, and Handicraft Industry in the Tribal Region of Himachal Pradesh were presented. The main speakers were Tsering Tashi, Ms. Vamika Pandey, Dr. Sumitra Kumari, Ms. Bilques Fatima, Ms. Akanksha Sahu, Dr. Indraneel Mandal, Ms. Chetna Rajput, Dr. Rajeev Johari, Ms. Sujata Bharti, Ms. Insha Batool, Porf. Aparna Negi and Bhumesh Kumar.

In an another session the papers on Energy Consumption, Economic Growth and Population, Accessible Health Services and Disabilities, Livelihood Strategies of Nomadic Tribes of Jammu & Kashmir, Environment and Export Competitiveness, Climate Change and Energy Security, Energy Poverty and Health in India, Energy Resources inJammu & Kashmir, Biomonitoring in Health Risk Assessment, Health Effects of Air Pollution, and Solar Power for Sustainable Growth and Clean Energy in India were presented. In this session, the main speakers were Prof. B. N. Singh, Dr. Manoj Bhatt, Dr. Shakti Singh, Dr. Javid Ahmad Khan, Dr. Asmi Raza, Dr. Rita Mehra, Dr. Amit Singh Thakur, Avishake Raina, Dr. Kuldeep Singh, and Dr. Prabhjot Kaur. More than 100 participants across the states and union territories of India such as Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Kerala, West Bengal, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir, and Chandigarh were gathered for brainstorming sessions on the various seminar themes. Dr. Tsering Yangzon and Ph. D and M. Phil research scholars of the Department were also present. The outcomes of the seminar are planned to be disseminated through journal publications from the Universal Wiser, Singapore and edited volume(s) from reputed international publishers.