Urgent Need for an EHRA in India
India faces critical issues like air, water, and soil pollution, which are causing widespread health problems, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Currently, pollution control, environmental policies, and health management are handled by separate government bodies with minimal coordination, leading to inefficiencies.
Pollutants pose significant risks, particularly to children, the elderly, and low-income groups.
These health effects are not being adequately addressed due to fragmented governance.
Countries like the U.S., Germany, and Japan have successfully integrated environmental and health management.
India needs a similar approach to manage pollution and public health risks cohesively.
Reliable, integrated data on environmental health is lacking, which makes it difficult to formulate effective policies or track the impact of pollution.
Benefits of an EHRA
An EHRA would combine environmental monitoring with health assessments, allowing for more effective management of pollution and its health impacts.
It would use data and research to create informed, science-driven policies tailored to India’s unique challenges, such as air quality and climate change.
Like the U.S. EPA, an EHRA could support economic growth by promoting sustainable practices and green jobs while improving public health.
An EHRA would educate citizens about environmental health risks and empower local communities to push for cleaner environments.
It would help India meet its global commitments, like the Paris Agreement, by aligning national policies with international standards and local needs.
By creating a central agency, India could track and regulate pollution and health impacts more effectively, ensuring greater public health outcomes and environmental protection.
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