The UNICEF Representative to India, Ms. Maria Calvis, the World Health Organisation Representative Dr. Kim-Farley and the USEPA Administrator, Ms. Christine Todd Whitman, who participated in the discussions, stressed the need for paying greater attention to children’s health as they are more vulnerable and susceptible to environmental pollution. The discussions also focussed on the need for adopting a holistic approach to integrate occupational and environmental health and to develop a mechanism to ensure involvement of all the stake holders, including Governmental and non-governmental organisations in environment protection activities with a view to achieve sustainable development and protection of public health.

        The Conference was attended, among others, by senior officials of the USEPA and the ministries of Environment and Forests, Labour, Health & Family Welfare; Tata Energy Research Institute; Centre for Science and Environment; the National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad; the Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Lucknow and the Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi.

        The Conference followed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between India and the USEPA yesterday on Protection of Environment.