All the four lucky youngsters who’ve got a chance to represent Indian youth at the Copenhagen climate summit happen to be girls. And this has surely tickled Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh.
The girls – two from school and two from college – won a nationwide essay writing competition on climate change. Ramesh expressed surprised that no boy was selected. He then joked, “The ministry has no hidden agenda.”
Ramesh said going by how the media reacts, the ministry was sure to receive an RTI application asking why only girls were chosen for the Dec 7-18 summit. “They would ask what were we thinking. But let me clarify I too was surprised that there were no boys.”
His parting shot – more boys should show interest on environmental issues next time to maintain the gender balance!
rounak