OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development
Open access peer-reviewed journal
Role of Ngos in Developing a Sustainable Environment for the Society: in the Indian Context
Akshay Srivastava a, Yashi Paliwal b
Department of Management, Faculty of Social Sciences, Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Dayalbagh , Agra, India.
Volume 06, Issue 08, Pg. 12-22, 2013.
Abstract: Service has always been the main motive of mankind. To give an actual meaning to this, the Non-Government Organizations came into existence. Along with serving the society, they have always aimed at maintaining a sustainable environment. They not only help in uplifting the weaker sections of the society but also contribute to the concept of inclusive growth which India is aiming at from past few years. Despite having limited resources, these organizations could optimize them and offer their services to the society. Thus, aligning themselves to move on the path of sustainable development. This paper aims at answering the questions, as to “How the NGOs help in Sustainable Development? How far have they been successful in developing a sustainable environment for the society? And how well have they managed to make a judicious use of the resources for the welfare of the society?” The NGOs have very well expanded their scope to various sectors like education, health, environment, human rights etc. This way they have shaped a secure and sustainable environment for the deprived sections of the society. NGOs have created an environment where people can live, grow, learn and also develop themselves. Sustainable Development aims at bridging the gap between ecological services and the quality of life and NGOs have very successfully merged the two, as they are in harmony with the nature and in the cradle of the same nature they nurture mankind. NGOs today are also looking after the environmental issues and promoting eco-friendly practices and with the same ideology they are marching towards the development of the viable society. This way these have built a symbiotic relationship between the environment and the society as both are mutually benefited. It is a cyclic process as the development of the weaker section of the society will contribute in growth, and growth again will result in more opportunities for the rise of the deprived sections. This is how these organizations help in creating a sustainable environment. This holistic approach of these organizations makes them a very influential tool to achieve sustainable development. The country today, needs a model which addresses a long term development in the rural sector by optimizing the use of resources on a sustainable basis and NGOs are surely working in this direction.
Keywords: inclusive growth, optimization, social service, sustainability, symbiotic relationship
Implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in Churachandpur District, Manipur: A Beneficiary Perspective
Shishi Khawlneikim a, Meenakshi Mital b ,
Department of Resource Management & Design Application, Lady Irwin College, University of Delhi, India.
Volume 06, Issue 08, Pg. 22-26, 2013.
Abstract: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was enacted on 7th September 2005. The act is one of the largest right-based social protections that guarantees wage employment of 100 days in a year to the rural poor that they can expect to earn a living wage, without loss of dignity. The study was carried out in two blocks of Churachandpur District, Manipur. Random sampling technique was used for selection of district, blocks, villages and beneficiaries. Rural people of Manipur rely heavily on earnings from unskilled wage labour to other farm or non-farm enterprises. More than half of the population is unemployed as the State has no big industry. In addition, agriculture which is one of the main occupations in Manipur , is in a bad state as it is dependent on monsoon due to non-availability of irrigational facilities, lacks modern farm equipment and fertilizers and is therefore unable to absorb the large number of unemployed. Non availability of employment is one of the major causes of poverty in the State. Therefore, MGNREGS has a very significant role in a State like Manipur as it provides the rural people with the right to work, enhance livelihood security and bring about development of community assets to be able to generate work on a sustainable basis. Review of literature shows that there have been a number of studies that looked at implementation of the act in terms of employment generation, socio-economic, infrastructural development and works completed but very few studies have been done on beneficiary perspective. Thus, the present study has investigated the role of Gram Panchayat in functioning and implementation of the programme and satisfaction level of the beneficiaries with respect to provisions of the programme. As revealed by the study Gram Panchayat played and effective role in functioning and implementation of the programme by taking initiatives in registering, issuing job cards and providing employment to all interested members in their villages. Besides, they also conducted planning and recommending of work, monitoring and executing work, disbursing equal wages to the beneficiaries, maintaining records and practiced social audit. They also provided feedback opportunity to beneficiaries for proper implementation of the programme. The study also found that in both the blocks MGNREGS not only provided daily wage jobs to beneficiaries but also addressed environmental issues by undertaking works like water conservation, drought proofing, flood protection, land development, minor irrigation, horticulture and rural connectivity. The study revealed that the beneficiaries were largely satisfied with the provisions and implementation of MGNREGS. There are some reasons for dissatisfaction like delayed payment of wages, unsatisfactory wages earned per day, less provisioning of worksite facilities and unsuitable duration of work for women. So, there exist a scope for improvement in the provision and implementation. Hence, MGNREGS can be more effective in future if the State and Gram Panchayat made a concerted effort.
Keywords: Beneficiaries, Gram Panchayat, Functioning and Implementation, MGNREGS, Satisfaction level.
Where the Road is Without Congestion & Environment is Pollution Free: Trip to Sustainable Urban Mobility
Nistha Tripathi
Faculty of Human Resource Management,
Indian Institute of Forest Management, Nehru Nagar, Bhopal, India.
Volume 06, Issue 08, Pg. 30-37, 2013.
Abstract: Current era is the era of motorization. Head to toe every aspect is engrossed with motorization. Motorization is perceived as synonymous to civilization and elite status. Motorized mobility is in its full boom numbers of private motorized registered vehicles is on splurge and is expected to increase further in the wake of development. In the backdrop of above said status, congested roads, polluted air, jostling sounds of vehicles and road injuries has become the most common scene in cities. This situation calls for ‘sustainable urban mobility’ characterized by shift to non-motorized and public transport resulting in better urban quality of life.
Most of the tools and techniques of sustainable transportation were developed before coinage of the term “sustainable transportation” such as walking, public bus, passenger tram, Passenger rail service, pedal bicycles.
Earlier innovations and interventions aimed at bettering the status of road infrastructure and fuel efficiency of vehicles. But cities with overbuilt highways have experienced unintended consequences, linked to radical drops in public transport, walking and cycling. In many cases streets become void of ‘life’. Yet another impact was an increase in sedentary lifestyles causing and complicating a national epidemic of obesity and accompanying dramatically increased health care costs. Certain other provisions adopted with the objective of sustainable mobility are carpooling, high occupancy vehicle lane, congestion pricing, and transportation demand management.
In the area of sustainable urban mobility there is no one size fits all approach. Thus, the idea of the present study is to provide with an exhaustive review of various success models with the objective of analyzing myriad of ideas and concepts involved by various cities to attain the status of sustainable urban mobility.
Present study aims at in-depth analysis of the urban mobility practices of cities bestowed with sustainable transport award (STA) by Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) in the years 2005 to 2013. And as a result, provided with certain approaches and actions adopted by various cities to attain sustainable urban mobility.
STA is presented annually to a city that has shown leadership and vision in the field of sustainable transportation and urban livability in the preceding year. Nominations are accepted from anyone and winners and honorable mentions are chosen by the STA steering committee. Since 2005, the award has been given out annually to a city or major jurisdiction that has implemented innovative transportation strategies, especially in several different areas of urban transportation. The award rewards cities for such accomplishments as improving mobility for all residents, reducing transportation green house gas and air pollution emissions, and improving safety and access for bicyclists and pedestrians. The sustainable transport award looks for cities, working in at least three of the following policy areas i.e., improvements to public transportation, improvements to non-motorized travel, Expansion or improvements to public space, implementation of travel demand management, reduction of urban sprawl by linking transportation to development (TOD), reduction of transport related air pollution and green house gas emissions
Present study is descriptive research work involving collection and analysis of selected cities’ sustainable transport practices. It involves analysis of transport structure over the six noted criteria in table 2 in terms of relative significance by the awarded cities.
Figure 1: Sustainable Mobility and its determinants
The 11 cities which were awarded sustainable transport award from year 2005 to 2013 by ITDP had been selected as sample of study. The cities of Bogota, Seoul, Guayaquil, London, Paris, New York City, Ahmedabad, Guangzhou, San Francisco, Medellin and Mexico city grabbed STA from year 2005 to 2013 respectively.
Prevalent transport systems in all the selected cities along with recent developments have been studied and analyzed base on information availed from various online sources. Background variables such as geographical condition, socio-economic status and prior transportation condition were also paid heed in the course of analysis. These sources provided with detailed as well as specific information required for analyzing the successful sustainable transportation models and their background variables and determinants.
Thus, to recapitulate the study provided with a comprehensive compilation of various sustainable transport practices in association with various means of sustainability.
As Implications of Research, the present study would facilitate the researchers working in the area of sustainable mobility by providing various success models as well as their critical analysis. It would also pave the way for success for cities proceeding towards adoption of sustainable transportation model by providing a guideline in terms of which sustainable mobility could be adopted by particular cities with reference to their geographical, socio-economic and cultural conditions.
Keywords: Non-motorized transportation, Public Transport, Sustainable transportation, Sustainable Mobility, Transport Infrastructure.
Inflationary Pressure on Indian Economy
Nagashree, S.N
Department of Economics, Government Pre-University College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Volume 06, Issue 08, Pg. 39-41, 2013.
Abstract: Inflation as defined by classical economist is “Inflation shows rise in the price level and fall in the value of the money”. There are many reasons for inflationary pressures on an economy. Here in this paper I would like to present about food inflation and its impact on Indian economy. The reasons behind food inflation is mainly due to the mismatch of demand and supply, population, increase in per capita income, increase in consumption, demonstration effect have all contributed to food inflation.
Occupational distribution of population has undergone a change. Attitude and life style have also contributed for excess demand for food over its supply. The future trend may be that there may arise food scarcity and thus leading to import of basic items of food. Already India is facing low value of rupee as against the dollar; added to this could be import of food grains.
It is an alarm to economy to wake up and pull up to stabilize the agricultural growth rate, as well as maintain self sufficiency and if possible encourage exports.
Keywords: Inflation, Food Inflation, Foreign Exchange, Demand and Supply, Agricultural Growth Rate.
Environmental Sustainability through Green Banking: A Study on Private and Public Sector Banks in India
Rambalak Yadav a, Govind Swaroop Pathak b,
Department of Management Studies, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, India.
Volume 06, Issue 08, Pg. 38-50, 2013.
Abstract: Industrialization around the globe has triggered the pursuit of ever increasing needs and demands of the population and it has become symbolic of prosperity and development of an economy. But on the other hand it has resulted in the exploitation of the natural environment which in turn has disturbed the ecological balance. The disturbance in ecological balance has adversely impacted the human and its surrounding environment. The recent industrial disasters and natural disaster occur in the last three decades were directly or indirectly linked with the uneven industrialization. This in turn has raised an important issue of environmental protection among environmentalists, government and organization from all over the world. Environmental sustainability and sustainable development have become the important agenda in the international community. Various conferences and programs such as Earth Summit and United Nation Environmental program were being organized to create awareness about this alarming issue. Understanding the importance of the existence of human health & well being governments as well as the organizations started taking various initiatives for the concern of environmental protection and sustainability. Environmental sustainability plays a vital role in sustainable growth and development, as the integration of social, economical and environmental sustainability help to make the development sustainable. Environmental protection has become a part of strategy in most organizations in the developed countries and started offering environment friendly or green products and services to the consumers. Learning from their western counterparts, the Indian organizations have also adopted environmental friendly practices within the organization. But the concept of environmental sustainability and green products and services is new to developing country like India.
The aim of this paper is to study the various ‘Green Banking’ approaches adopted by private and public sector banks in India for environmental sustainability. Further this paper attempts to categorize the phases of Green Marketing initiatives of the banks on the basis of their green banking initiatives. The sample consists of the top performing banks of the public sector and the private sector, using the case study approach. The findings reveal that with the time the Indian banking sector have understood the importance of environmental protection and started taking various initiatives under its green banking approach. The finding also shows that public sector banks have taken more green banking initiatives as compared to private sector banks with an exception of ICICI bank. Secondly it was analyzed under the Phases of Green Marketing (Peattie, 2001) most of the banks were categorized in the Environmental’ Green Marketing: The Second Age; and taking initiatives which are beneficial to the environment as well as organizations; only ICICI bank Green banking approach was found suitable to the third phase of green marketing- Towards the Third Age: Sustainable Green Marketing. Based on the findings of the study implications for further research endeavors is discussed.
Keywords: Environmental Sustainability; Green Banking; Green Initiatives; Phases of Green Marketing.
Utopian Sustainable Urban Mobility: A Technological Intervention or Behavioral Interplay?
Nistha Tripathi
Indian Institute of Forest Management, Nehru Nagar, Bhopal, India.
Volume 06, Issue 08, Pg. 50-53, 2013.
Abstract: Urban mobility is suffering from plethora of disabling issues such as frequent and prolonged congestion, air and noise pollution, traffic injury and deaths and national epidemic of obesity and accompanying dramatically increased health care costs. The solution lies in shift to non-motorized and public transportation by individuals. Many a cities are toiling hard to make the transportation practices pro-environment as well as pro-individual. Thus, the matter of concern is how to facilitate this shift in transport behavior of individuals from pro-private and motorized to pro-public and non-motorized.
Present case throws light over sustainable urban mobility through UTOPIAN identity and posits a question among individuals regarding requisites of sustainable urban mobility by presenting the case of Utopia- an ideal city of urban mobility.
Keywords: Sustainable Urban Mobility, Sustainable Urban transportation, Non-motorized Transport, Transport Demand Management
Empowerment of Women Teachers and Public Participation: Women’s Role in Urban City
Valmiki Rama Krishna
Department of Political Science, Tumkur University, Tumkur, India.
Volume 06, Issue 08, Pg. 54-64, 2013.
Abstract: Education is milestone of women empowerment because it enables them to responds to the challenges, to confront their traditional role and change their life so that, we can’t neglect the importance of education in reference to women empowerment. Education is the first step towards empowerment and the most crucial factor in overall development of the individual as well as nation. Literacy sets one free from ignorance, exploitation and poverty. It liberates the minds , opening up new horizon ,new hope/ opportunities and self –confidence further equipping them with the knowledge, skills, self-respect and freedom to participate sustain and excel in their life .Illiteracy on the other hand ,breeds ignorance ,which ,leads to exploitation , poverty, neglect crimes and number of social evils. Literacy deprives women from all opportunities and further prospects of leading a meaningful life and enjoying good standard of living. In this background the present paper discusses Education as an effective instrument for social and economic development and national integration. Further the paper explores the ideas of education and how education enables women to understand their social and legal rights, become economically independent acquire a voice in the affairs of the family and the community. Education is a gateway to information, opportunities and empowerment. In this backdrop the paper will discuss the role of education and women empowerment through public participation particularly with working women teachers in high schools in Gulbarga city and finally the paper put forth the suggestions and recommendations how far the empowerment of women achieved through public participation and empowerment as an important tool for women’s development.
Keywords: New Horizons, Empowerment, Education, Profession, Participation, Policies
Greenhouse Farming in Gujarat: A March towards Sustainable Agriculture
Indira Dutta a, Vinod Sen b
a Centre for Studies in Economics and Planning, School of Social Sciences,
Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India.
Volume 06, Issue 08,Pg. 64-69, 2013.
Abstract: Climate change has become one of the greatest challenges which mankind ever faced. The glorious journey of Gujarat right from 1960 to till this date is full of landmark achievements but this continued prosperity with continued environmental damage has forced us to think that are we heading towards prosperity or heading towards disaster. Of late, a growing movement has started towards sustainable agriculture not only to solve environmental crisis, but it offers innovative opportunities for both the farmers as well as consumers. A number of initiatives have been taken to push Gujarat towards sustainable agriculture but among all the initiatives Greenhouse farming technology is the most revolutionary that has ushered a golden era in the history of Gujarat’s agriculture. The main advantage of Greenhouse farming is that it provides maximum yields while utilizing minimum area. In fact, Greenhouses are framed structures covered with transparent materials large enough to grow plants under fully controlled environmental condition. Greenhouse farming has four dimensions i.e. ecological dimension, economic dimension, social dimension as well as cultural dimension. Ecological dimension basically focuses on soil fertility and increases bio-diversity. Economic dimension encompasses both income security as well as food security. Social dimension involves betterment of quality of life for those who work and live on the farm as well as those in the local community. The cultural dimension explains that without breaking their cultural heritage farmers could enjoy cultivation in Greenhouse farming. In Gujarat, Greenhouse farming technology has made farming a complete business opportunity. As it has become a profitable venture lot of investments are coming from individuals, entrepreneurs and companies. The reason is that there is an increase in demand for high quality exotic vegetables and flowers throughout the world. With less water and less labour high yield is noticed compared to traditional agriculture. Another major advantage is that Gujarat has got good infrastructure facilities like roadways, railways and electricity etc. Not only this Gujarat gets 25% subsidy of the project cost from Central Government and additional subsidy of 50% from Gujarat State Government for greenhouse structure , interest subsidy i.e., 6% for five years and electric subsidy i.e., 25% for five years.
Because of the additional subsidies Gujarat has become No. 1 rank in greenhouse cultivation in India. In a span of just five years, exotic flowers like hybrid tea roses and gerbera have emerged as big money spinners for farmers in Gujarat. Currently cultivators from Navsari to Surat both grow flowers worth crores in climate controlled greenhouses and have been exporting them in countries like Japan, New Zealand, Germany and U.K. Since the last three years more and more farmers have ventured into the floriculture business and today the turnover is 50 crores. At present Gujarat has 650 operational greenhouses and will have more than 80 operational greenhouses in the years to come. It is true that there is no magic formula for sustainable agriculture and at the same time this is no easy solution to the dilemma of environmental degradation and poverty. Culture, society, economy and environment interact in complex and dynamic ways, sometimes slow and sometimes dramatically very fast. But if we want to bring sustainable agriculture then Gujarat has to think in terms of food security, livelihood security, environmental security and health security. Greenhouse farming is the golden thread which connects all the securities together but to promote it we need a proactive Government intervention and higher budgetary allocation. With it, we can move towards intergenerational and intra-generational equity and the march towards sustainable agriculture which will finally push Gujarat towards sustainable development.
This research paper will be based on primary survey.
Keywords: Environment Security, Food Security, Greenhouse Farming, Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable
Politics -A Business Or A Profession
Anuj Sabharwal a, Payal Lamba b
a, b Amity Law School Delhi, Affiliated to Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Dwarka, New Delhi.
Volume 06, Issue 08, Pg. 70-77, 2013.
Abstract: Politics in our day-to-day understanding is an all comprehensive term. Mostly it has been used to mean state Politics that includes structure and functioning of a State as well as its correlation with other states. Politics is used as a science of state or an academic discipline which is not competent to change the image of politics, and, which is understood as an activity centering around power and very often devoid of principles. The paper examines the meaning of the term ‘politics’ and further explains how it has became a business or whether it has turned into a profession. By and large, people in India consider Politics as ‘dirt’. This paper brings into light those facts which support this perception and further brings into light a few examples which prove this perception as just a misconception. The aim of this paper is to know in depth the concept of Politics in India. In India, dynastic Politics have existed from the days India was not even fully Independent. Post Independence Era has seen kiths and kins of late famous political figures, who have entered politics in spite of not being capable of handling public administration. The paper examines this aspect in deep and further brings into light certain cases of dynastic politics in India and the pros and cons of its existence. The paper further gives suggestions to improve the current scenario of Indian Politics.
Keywords: dynasty, Independence, politics, power, state.
Eradication of Poverty, Social Welfare Policies in India: Initiatives and Policy Implications
Valmiki Rama Krishna a, Rudrappa Shashidhar b
a Department of Political Science, Tumkur University, Tumkur, India.
b Department of Studies & Research in Business Administration, Tumkur University, Tumkur, India.
Volume 06, Issue 08, Pg. 80-87, 2013.
Abstract: India is essentially a nation of villages. It is predominantly an agricultural country where about 70 percent of the people are dependent upon land for their livelihood and 75 per cent live in rural India. Indian villages are suffering from economic distress due to the lower per capita income, illiteracy and wide spread malnutrition and under nutrition. They also suffer from the absence of basic amenities such as better housing facilities, transportation and communication services. In view of the recommendations of the commission appointed from time to time in accordance to the policies and programmes implemented from government and other agencies for socio-economic development of rural people the paper explores government initiatives, implications and explores the connotations of development of rural people. Further, the manuscript seeks to examine, explores the poverty in India with special interest with rural population and evaluation of the programmes and policies and implementation of social welfare programmes particularly. Finally, the paper concludes eradication of poverty in rural India and extent of improvement of livelihood of rural people and achievements of the commitments made by the government and other agencies in present conditions of globalization. An effort is also made to suggest the ways to increase women empowerment of rural people’s economic development which is a driving force of rural economy.
Keywords: Poverty, Social Welfare, Policies, Initiatives, Poverty Eradication, Socio-economic