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The Isha Foundation founder returned to Tamil Nadu on Tuesday after travelling 27 nations and 30,000 km in 100 days, having participated in 600-plus events globally.
On the final day of 100 days journey for soil, the Isha Foundation founder addressed a programme organised at the India Air Force base at Sulur near Coimbatore of Tamil Nadu.
The penultimate day of Sadhguru's journey coincided with international yoga day. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the event virtually as special guest.
Speaking on the occasion, Isha Foundation founder and spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev pointed that as a generation we stand on a cusp of time, where if we act now in 10-15 years, we can make a significant turnaround. If we wait for another 25-30 years' time, even if we want we cannot turn it around because the bio-diversity loss is happening."
Urging people's support in driving national policy changes, he contended that in a democracy for real sensible things to happen people must voice for it.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasised on the need for collective efforts by the people to protect soil and environment and also adaptation of eco-friendly values to make the world better.
"We have understood very well, that soil conservation cannot be done, by focusing only on the soil. Therefore, we have tried to conserve, and increase all other components related to it, such as afforestation, wildlife, wetlands, etc.," he said while virtually addressing the "Save Soil" programme.
The 'Save Soil' campaign provided a ray of hope as it instils a belief that large number of people from all over the world who have joined this campaign will contribute in maintaining the health of the soil in the times to come, the Minister said.
He pointed out that soil in a much broader and deeper sense is directly related to human civilisation, culture, literature, history, art and philosophy. The kind of crops that the soil will allow to be grown in a place, would determine the food and culture of the region, he asserted.
"There is a very close relationship between land and security as well. Such land, where soil productivity is high, there is peace and prosperity and less conflict. Whereas, such land, where there is a lack of soil productivity and natural resources, there is a greater possibility of conflict and deprivation," PTI quoted the Union Minister.
Referring to the United Nations' data on earth claiming 40 per cent of the land is degraded, Singh said this is a big alarm bell for the entire humanity.
Jaggi Vasudev began his road trip across the world to spread awareness on March 21. At least 74 countries have pledged to save soil from extinction. Several states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Rajasthan have signed MoU to save soil in their respective states.
(Input from PTI)
