India is
facing an intense crisis of resources. There is fierce competition for the
nation's limited natural resources leading to quarrels between states, between
communities and even families. The exploitation of mineral resources is
threatening forests, nature reserves, and ecology. Over use of
resources is contributing to natural disasters occurring more frequently and
with greater devastation. The recent Uttarakhand disaster is the result of over
exploitation of nature by humans. The disaster
has been caused by unplanned development. It is the result of mindless misuse
of the state's natural resources. The dams, barrages and tunnels built in the
name of hydel projects have impacted the course of the rivers which led to the
tragedy
Over use of
resources is contributing to natural disasters occurring more frequently and
with greater devastation. In a country like India where the factors
contributing to population growth far outweigh the factors for development,
population is no longer a resource but a burden to society.
When India
became independent, population growth was seen as a major impediment to the
country's socio-economic development and population 'control' was seen as
integral to the development process. Population growth was seen as an urgent
problem related to economic development with limited resources. At the same
time, family planning would benefit both individual families as well as women's
health.
The pressing
need of the day is to at create ideal conditions for acceptance of the need for
stabilizing the population and how it is an essential element of human welfare
and development. The solution to this lie in spreading of education and
enlightenment, and in the empowerment of women. Birth control programmes should
also be integrated with medical and public health services to make them popular
among the masses.
No comments:
Post a Comment