Sustainable development is the organizing principle for meeting human development goals while simultaneously sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services based upon which the economy and society depend. The desired result is a state of society where living conditions and resources are used to continue to meet human needs without undermining the integrity and stability of the natural system. Sustainable development can be defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
While the modern concept of sustainable development is derived mostly from the 1987 Brundtland Report, it is also rooted in earlier ideas about sustainable forest management and twentieth-century environmental concerns. As the concept developed, it has shifted its focus more towards the economic development, social development and environmental protection for future generations. It has been suggested that "the term 'sustainability' should be viewed as humanity's target goal of human-ecosystem equilibrium, while 'sustainable development' refers to the holistic approach and temporal processes that lead us to the end point of sustainability". Modern economies are endeavoring to reconcile ambitious economic development and obligations of preserving natural resources and ecosystems, as the two are usually seen as of conflicting nature. Instead of holding climate change commitments and other sustainability measures as a remedy to economic development, turning and leveraging them into market opportunities will do greater good. The economic development brought by such organized principles and practices in an economy is called Managed Sustainable Development (MSD).
The concept of sustainable development has been, and still is, subject to criticism, including the question of what is to be sustained in sustainable development. It has been argued that there is no such thing as a sustainable use of a non-renewable resource, since any positive rate of exploitation will eventually lead to the exhaustion of earth's finite stock; this perspective renders the Industrial Revolution as a whole unsustainable. It has also been argued that the meaning of the concept has opportunistically been stretched from 'conservation management' to 'economic development', and that the Brundtland Report promoted nothing but a business as usual strategy for world development, with an ambiguous and insubstantial concept attached as a public relations slogan.
Important strategies for sustainable rural development in India
The vision of the Rural Programmes Group of the Central government is to contribute to the knowledge and practice of sustainable development of ecologically sensitive, stressed, fragile areas through promotion of equitable and sustainable livelihood strategies. Centre for Environment and Education (CEE) develops, adapts and encourages a variety of natural resource management approaches through its programmes and facilitates such initiatives by other groups. Through its field programmes designed especially for communities living in rural areas, CEE has developed programmes for income generation and better utilisation of resources. These include activities aimed at creating awareness among the communities about the ecological significance of the areas around which they live. Projects to demonstrate environmentally-sound, practical alternatives to support sustainable resource management in ecologically fragile areas, including areas around National Parks and Sanctuaries arc also undertaken. Some of these projects are:
1) GRAM-NIDHI Eco Enterprises for Sustainable Livelihoods
CEE's proposal "GRAMNIDHI-Eco Enterprises for Sustainable Livelihoods" was one of the twenty winners. selected from among 1500 applicants, in the first-ever India Country Level Development Marketplace Competition. sponsored by the World Bank. The proposal aimed towards developing financial and human capital to conserve Natural Resources leading to Sustainable Livelihoods. An Eco-enterprise Investment Committee (EIC) channels the funds as small working capital for eco-enterprises on commercially sustainable rates of interest, along with adequate capacity building and information servicing. The EIC includes members of the Paryavaran Nibs Mandals (PVMs) of the five villages, one member each from the Narmada Trust (the local NGO partner) CEE and an ex-officio member from the local bank, government officials and experts. The eco-enterprise produces goods and services that are economically efficient and viable, ecologically sustainable and socially acceptable, using resources and appropriate technology. They derive maximum leverage from the local cultural and natural environment, by drawing upon existing managerial and technical skills and developing a cadre with social sensitivity and environmental concern. Some of the enterprises have been jointly evolved as eco-packages by the PVMs and CEE.
2) Endogenous Tourism Project in North East
CEE has been selected as an Implementing Partner for the Endogenous Tourism Project of the UNDP and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India in three proposed sites in North Eastern states. The goal is to promote local culture and craft based eco-tourism for sustainable livelihoods and integrated rural development.
3) Andhra Pradesh District Poverty
Alleviation Initiatives CEE is the Environment Agency (EA) for two World Bank-supported projects, Andhra Pradesh District Poverty Initiatives Project (APDPIP) and Andhra Pradesh Rural Poverty Reduction Project (APRPRP), implemented in 22 districts by the Government of Andhra Pradesh through the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP). CEE is responsible for designing and implementing the Environmental Management Framework. This seeks to ensure that neither the livelihoods of the poor nor the environment are compromised.
4) Halvad Sustained Programme In Villages
CEE's Halved Field Office has been working for the last four years on holistic. participatory rural development programmes, commencing with earthquake rehabilitation in 36 villages of Halvad Taluka of Surendranagar District, at the fringe of the Little Rann of Kachchh. a Wild Ass Sanctuary.
The rehabilitation interventions of shelter and school construction. occupation revival. and drought prowling represented an opportunity for initiating long-term sustainable livelihoods and natural resource management activities, by empowering communities. facilitating partnerships and creating local decision-making structures.
5) Samvardhan-II
The project aims at improving the quality of life of the tribal communities of the southern belt of Gujarat especially with regard to safe drinking water, natural resource productivity. animal husbandry practices, income generation opportunities, access and effectiveness of the primary education and empowering village local self governance towards sustainable development regardless of the project's existence. The project is being implemented through a community based approach in 24 villages spread across 4 blocks and three districts of Gujarat. The project functions in three thrust areas i.c. drinking water, livelihood and primary education and aims to achieve four cross cutting outcomes in all interventions.
6) UP Forestry Project - ay-development Programs
CEE assisted the Forest Department. Uttar Pradesh in providing support for guiding the preparation and implementation of eco-development microplans by village communities around PM in Kaimur sanctuary, Ranipur sanctuary. Chandraprabha sanctuary, Chambal National sanctuary and wetland clusters in UP and Corbett National Park. CEE's role was essentially to assist the Forest Department through the social motivators to reach the communities in an effective manner, to provide support to the programme during training and to facilitate micro plan preparation and implementation.
7) Ranthambore Eno-development Programme
CEE's first eco-development programme for implementation of various educational and developmental programmes was launched around the Ranthambore National Pads in Rajasthan in selected villages. The focus of the programme was on environmental improvement by people themselves through environmentally sound technologies. Communication education programmes were developed for areas of animal husbandry, cooperative dairies, soil and water conservation, watershed development, energy efficient devices, alternative fuels, etc. CEE tam worked closely with the local NGOs and several government departments.
8) Hingolgadh Eco-development Programme
CEE's Hingolgadh Programme has been in operation in 17 villages around the Hingolgadh Nature Education Sanctuary, Jasdan Taluka. Rajkot District. Gujarat for the past 17 years. The programme commenced with a focus on empowering local communities to upgrade and conserve local natural resources. It aimed at creation of an alternative resource base for meeting fuel and fodder needs of the villagers. optimization of casting sound through introduction of new and improved practices and technologies, development of education and communication material, and training progratruncs to aid effective implementation.
Subcribe on Youtube - IGNOU SERVICE
For PDF copy of Solved Assignment
WhatsApp Us - 9113311883(Paid)
0 Comments
Please do not enter any Spam link in the comment box