Questions
- The objectives of the environmental movements in India are different from such movements of other developed countries. Elucidate. (20 Marks)
- India has overtaken China as the most populous nation in the world. Discuss the challenges faced by India in the population control measures. (20 Marks)
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Model Structures
Q1. The objectives of the environmental movements in India are different from such movements of other developed countries. Elucidate. (20 Marks)
Introduction
- Environmental movement is a type of social movement that involves an array of individuals, groups and coalitions that perceive a common interest in environmental protection and act to bring about changes in environmental policies and practices͟.
Main Body
- Environmental movements of various countries have emerged due to different reasons.
- The environmental movements in the northern countries are basically on the issue of quality of life. Whereas the environmental movements in the south arise due to other reasons, such as due to conflicts for controlling of natural resources and many more.
- The participants of these movements in the developed countries are the middle class and upper class people, who have concern for nature. But in India the protesters are generally the marginal population – hill peasants, tribal communities, fishermen and other underprivileged people. For example: Chipko, Narmada Bachao Andolan, Mitti Bachao Andolan, Koel-Karo Andolan etc.
- That is why the environmentalism of the North is referred to as full stomach environmentalism and the environmentalism of the south is called empty environmentalism.
- The genesis of the environmental movement in India can be traced to the Chipko movement (1973) in Garhwal region in the new state of Uttaranchal. In fact, between the 1970s and 1980s there were several struggles in India around issues of rights to forest and water which raised larger ecological concerns like rights of communities in forest resources, sustainability of large scale environmental projects like dams, issues of displacement and rehabilitation etc.
- Environmental movements in India, therefore, are not necessarily for the 'green' or 'clean' earth or for saving mankind's heritage but for survival of the local poor.
- Gadgil and Guha identify four broad strands within the environmental movements in India.
- The first types are those which emphasise on the moral necessity to restrain overuse and ensure justice to the poor and marginalised. Mainly Gandhians belong to this strand.
- The second strand stresses on the need to dismantle the unjust social order through struggle.
- The Third and fourth strands advocate reconstruction, i.e. employing technologies appropriate to the given context and time. They reflect the concerns of the scientists or the spontaneous efforts of the communities at the village level who aim at protecting local community forests or the right to pursue environment-friendly agricultural practices
- Control over natural resources is an important reason for the emergence of the environmental movement in India.
- Socio economic dimensions.
- Almost most of the environmental movements in India are related to this aspect, also, if we see the location where these movements have started then we would find that most of these areas are tribal dominated.
- These people have strong beliefs regarding their forests and resources for their survival. Therefore, when these forests or other sources of livelihood get disturbed by the outsiders, their socio-economic conditions get hampered and the ultimate recourse is the movement against those people who were harnessing those resources.
- Women had played an important role in these movements in India.
- Environmental degradation leads to environmental movement. For example the silent valley case.
- The spread of environmental awareness and media has also played a pivotal role in the emergence of the environmental movement in urban areas.
- Forced displacement: Due to large scale displacement of local people have resulted in many environmental movements in different parts of the country.
Conclusion
- On the basis of above arguments the conclusion could be drawn that the nature based conflicts, the false developmental policies of the government, the marginalisation of the tribal and other underprivileged groups and the environmental degradation are the root causes of emergence of environmental movements in India.
Q2. India has overtaken China as the most populous nation in the world. Discuss the challenges faced by India in the population control measures. (20 Marks)
Introduction
- While the world population has increased three fold the Indian population has increased five times in the same given amount of time.
Main Body
- Keeping this in mind, India, to tackle this problem, has taken many measures. But the population in India is increasing at a very fast pace. The reason for these are:
- Patriarchy (preference of male child): Preference of a male child leads to couples giving birth to children till they get a male child, thus leading to higher number of kids.
- Marriage: Marriage is a social compulsion in India. Therefore, most people are married by the time they reach their reproductive age. Along with marriage being universal, child marriage is very common in India. Early marriage prolongs the child bearing age, thus leading to a high number of kids. Apart from this, there are many instances of people getting married before the legal age of 18 and 21 years.
- Poverty: Impoverished families, who find it difficult to make ends meet believe that more number of family members would lead to more income, thus they prefer having large families. Also, there is prevalence of child labour in India, which makes children an economic asset for poverty ridden families. Also, poverty leads to lack of access to health facilities, leading to higher infant mortality rate. Thus, a higher number of children are seen as safe, so that a few would eventually survive.
- Illiteracy: Lack of proper education and low literacy levels in India leads to couples not being aware of contraceptives. High infant mortality: The fear of death of children forces people to reproduce more number of children, so that a few would survive.
- Agrarian economy: With around 50% of the population still involved in agriculture, India is largely an agrarian economy. In agriculture, children are easily employed. Thus families prefer having more children, so that external wage workers are not needed. Therefore, rural areas generally have large families.
- Religiously orthodox and conservative people generally tend to oppose family planning measures. Illegal migration from other countries: Though this might be a minor factor, illegal migration from India's neighbouring countries (especially Bangladesh, Nepal) is leading to an increase in population.
Conclusion
- All these factors are restricting India from controlling its population rise. Though the population presently is on a rise, the measures taken are showing their impact and this can be shown by the reduction in population growth in India in the last few years.
