Dinkerrai Desai- A Eco-mentor to NIEPians
A helping hand to mentor NIEPians who serve our mother earth!
This fortnight we present Dinkerrai Desai , one of the most prominent Indian Environment Professionals of our times…… Network of Indian Environment Professionals, ( http://www.paryavaran.com ) has brought together more than a thousand Indian Environment Professionals across the world. We requested him to be a mentor and guide to this generation . Mr. Desai graciously agreed to shape the young career of these professionals. Our network members log on to query him . He will work to provide us with his nuggets of wisdom as and when his busy schedule permits.
Dinkerrai Desai, a young environment professional from India left his village in Torangam, in Gujarat in 1970 and came to United States in search of a dream. While, a average Gujarati pursues business, he held his own to pursue a career in environment.
He joined the U.S. Army in 1978. and is serving the US Army as a environmental coordinator at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, since 1981, where he is in charge of programs and contractors that assure environmental compliance support with pollution prevention initiatives, energy conservation and underground storage tank management.
He realized his dream when President Bush appointed him to the Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) of North America in 2003. He is one of the key American Indians in the circle of influence in Washington D.C. shaping the American dream.
He is a icon to the future generation of Indian Environment Professionals. Young hopefuls who dream to save our mother earth from destruction!
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Q. Dinker, there is a certain amount of idealism associated with the environment profession. Young students join the subject with a lot of dream in their eyes. Tell me why did YOU join this sector?
Let me answer the last question first. I did join this profession because in this profession there may have been job opportunities. My fair assumption at that time was there is no Sewerage system and water supply in villages as well as large towns. So there may be opportunities to design and construct sewer system and water supply system for small village to large town. It was purely an economic play. During those days (1968), there was no such thing as Environmental awareness. Especially in India, there was a need for industrial waste treatment, upgrading the water supply, upgrading sewage treatment plant etc. there was no awareness in pure science such as Air pollution, geological environmental requirements, pollution prevention and renewable energy etc.
And yes- there was little idealism was involved by eliminating malaria due for constructing seer system and supplying potable water for rural area.
Q. Do we as a environmentalist fight a losing battle? As an environmental professional what role can we play in eliminating the causes of environmental pollution? Or is it futile to join a profession where the more we do the more we face a wall of destruction?
Not necessary. Very strong awareness is going at very high level on the Environment. Even North American Free trade Agreement (NAFTA) between three countries (USA. Mexico and Canada) has created Council on Environmental Cooperation. There is difference of opinion, how to execute the environmental model or recommendations between developing countries and well developed countries.
The role of environmental professional should be to create an environmental awareness. Such as what happened if we don’t enforce the environmental laws. Even Judicial system
in India could be coach for environmental awareness so they can be vigilant on fines etc.
Institution like yours can invite professional from judicial branch as well as ministers from India or even prime minister and create awareness.
Q. India today is experiencing a particularly explosive phase of growth and prosperity. Often, the environmental laws and its implementation cannot keep pace with rapid phases of “Development”. Do you see some lessons that India can learn from USA?
India can follow US path slowly, because India should grow and execute, enforce the environmental laws at the same time. Being a developing country, to execute the environmental program and grow the economy will be a constant challenge. However I do believe the large manufacturing facilities must control their air emissions, treat their industrial waste discharge before going into sanitary systems and vigorously institute pollution prevention ideas to develop sustainable society.
Q. The US government has been outsourcing the implementation of its environmental commitments to private contractors, vendors and consultants for quite some time now. This has resulted in a very well established environment industry in USA. What market opportunities do you think these US businesses have in the environment sector in India?
India has lot of talent and both countries can work on renewable energy projects such as fuel cells, solar energy and other renewable energy projects to reduce the pollution.
Q. As the Industries in USA try to cut their costs of operations in a difficult economy one of the fall-outs can be their implementation of the Environmental standards. How can the fledgling Indian environment industry collaborate with US environment Industry to make sure that the cost of Global environmental compliance does not make any industry unviable?
Both country can work together by exchanging technology as I said in the previous question.
Q. Is there some lessons to be learned form the Global outsourcing wave in other sectors? How can Indian Environment Professionals gear themselves to this Global opportunity to generate efficiencies in the Global environment sector?
I think outsourcing the jobs should be limited to certain trades and it should be on case-by-case basis. Not all. Our children in USA spend lot of money to educate themselves in Colleges in USA. So our prime responsibility is to provide jobs to younger generation- Citizen of USA. If there is need for special trade requirements and we have an additional jobs available, out sourcing may be appropriate in that area.
Q. “Network of Indian Environment Professionals” with almost a thousand members now is working to create International standards, training and linkages with environmental businesses all over the world? Our goal is to help create a million man-hours of work for the Environment sector in linking India and the Indian Environmental market to the world. What do you think can be our Roadmap?
I think first you have to have good business model and environment to link, to gather. India can work with world body like World trade organization, United nations etc. to
create a roadmap.
Thanks,
Dinker