World environment day is celebrated every year on 5th of June. The day is celebrated as the environmental conservation day by the United Nations with the participation from the governments /NGOs worldwide to raise awareness regarding the environmental issues like global warming, deforestation, loss of wildlife etc. 5th June was chosen because the first UN conference on Human environment was held in Stockholm on this day.
Over the years the environmental conservation efforts have taken many forms like sustainable development, afforestation, green cities, green buildings etc, but only recently there has been a talk of green HR. As a HR professional working for Indian Railways I can definitely say that if this idea is implemented properly this can change the whole mindset and administration of environmental conservation.
Ramchandran defines green HRM as integration of environmental management into human resource management. The idea here is to devise such HR practices which can contribute to broader environmental conservation efforts. Some of these ideas include car pooling, conducting meetings through video conferencing, online recruitment and training etc.
Many green HR initiatives have been taken in Indian Railways at different levels at different times. Some of such efforts include massive plantation drive by the railway officers and staff during the environment day and other times as well. Also to promote environmental awareness questions from environment are being asked at various departmental exams under general knowledge section. Also certain enthusiastic officers like Mr Somesh Kumar ex-DRM Nagpur division have started initiatives like coming to office by cycling on every Thursdays, starting a specific competition of Fit India to promote healthy living among officers and staff.
COVID 19 pandemic has forced to reinvent the workplace and many of the green HRM practices are now being increasingly used Like holding meetings through video conferencing, conducting interviews and training through video conferencing, use of e-office for office working etc.. This is a welcome development which needs to be continued.
However the various ideas of green HRM are yet to emerge at organised level in Indian Railways. Certain ideas that can be implemented in this regard are as under;
- Inclusion of environment as syllabus at all stages of selection on the pattern of UPSC. Also environment related aspects can be added in the training syllabus.
- Environment awareness drive can be conducted from time to time to raise awareness about environment issues.
- A revolutionary idea can be linking environment conservation efforts in the ARAR of officers which will give much needed push to environment conservation efforts.
- Moving toward complete digitisation through initiatives like e-office and other such measures in the long run.
As remarked by Gandhiji ‘Nature has enough for everyone’s need but not for anyone’s greed’. So there is need to promote HR practices in such a way that ensure sustainable and healthy living in the workforce.
World environment day is celebrated every year on 5th of June. The day is celebrated as the environmental conservation day by the United Nations with the participation from the governments /NGOs worldwide to raise awareness regarding the environmental issues like global warming, deforestation, loss of wildlife etc. 5th June was chosen because the first UN conference on Human environment was held in Stockholm on this day.
Over the years the environmental conservation efforts have taken many forms like sustainable development, afforestation, green cities, green buildings etc, but only recently there has been a talk of green HR. As a HR professional working for Indian Railways I can definitely say that if this idea is implemented properly this can change the whole mindset and administration of environmental conservation.
Ramchandran defines green HRM as integration of environmental management into human resource management. The idea here is to devise such HR practices which can contribute to broader environmental conservation efforts. Some of these ideas include car pooling, conducting meetings through video conferencing, online recruitment and training etc.
Many green HR initiatives have been taken in Indian Railways at different levels at different times. Some of such efforts include massive plantation drive by the railway officers and staff during the environment day and other times as well. Also to promote environmental awareness questions from environment are being asked at various departmental exams under general knowledge section. Also certain enthusiastic officers like Mr Somesh Kumar ex-DRM Nagpur division have started initiatives like coming to office by cycling on every Thursdays, starting a specific competition of Fit India to promote healthy living among officers and staff.
COVID 19 pandemic has forced to reinvent the workplace and many of the green HRM practices are now being increasingly used Like holding meetings through video conferencing, conducting interviews and training through video conferencing, use of e-office for office working etc.. This is a welcome development which needs to be continued.
However the various ideas of green HRM are yet to emerge at organised level in Indian Railways. Certain ideas that can be implemented in this regard are as under;
- Inclusion of environment as syllabus at all stages of selection on the pattern of UPSC. Also environment related aspects can be added in the training syllabus.
- Environment awareness drive can be conducted from time to time to raise awareness about environment issues.
- A revolutionary idea can be linking environment conservation efforts in the ARAR of officers which will give much needed push to environment conservation efforts.
- Moving toward complete digitisation through initiatives like e-office and other such measures in the long run.
As remarked by Gandhiji ‘Nature has enough for everyone’s need but not for anyone’s greed’. So there is need to promote HR practices in such a way that ensure sustainable and healthy living in the workforce.
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