China has now become part of the rich nations league to be the "biggest polluter" of atmosphere. Seen as a major contributor to green house gas emissions, next to the US, it owes to the world what is being termed as "climate debt". Hammering the point was Ms Victoria Tauli Corpuz, Chairperson of UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous issues, at a seminar on indigenous people, Climate change and rural poverty. Leading the Indian delegation was Agatha Sangma, Minister of state for rural development. She spoke about India's effort to focus on "inclusive growth" and the different policies to help the poor, disadvantaged and marginalized segments of the population.

Earlier, Sangma highlighted some of the Indian government's schemes for rural employment, watershed development and skill development of the rural poor. More importantly she pledged that India would, in the next three years, be a country which is what she called "open defecation free".

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India's cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday was named as the Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Environment Programme.The appointment announced by UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner in Mumbai will enable Tendulkar to use his popularity to raise public awareness and harness support for environmental action in India and the world.

Tendulkar,who would be the second Indian after Mother Teresa to become UN ambassador, said he will be happy if he is able to contribute even a fraction of what she has done.

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