Redefining development

Harmonizing progress with nature and people

Have we ever thought about why and how shanty towns are formed? The poor people who cannot make ends meet are compelled to look for a site to establish residence. As they cannot afford the rent or construction cost, they often end up living in katchi abadis. These kinds of slums tend to arise in areas experiencing uneven development in larger cities. There is a need to cast a look at the overall development model. Progress is a complex word. On the face of it, tall buildings, and plenty of cars on the roads are not development. In fact, the word development needs to be redefined.

Over the past three decades, global agreements such as the Montreal Protocol, the Rio Earth Summit (in the 1992), and the Kyoto Protocol (in the1997) have steadily cautioned that development ignoring environmental protection would be untenable. Here, the actual challenge is to know how to harmonize development with nature. We must see whether the development, such as roads, is in harmony with nature or in conflict with it.

Environmental impact assessment involves analysis to determine whether or not some action is affecting the quality of the human environment. But it is seen with apprehension that human activities have disrupted the ecological balance. This reduction in biodiversity gives way to innumerable problems. We must protect the natural assets such as trees, marshes, and floodplains.

Trees, especially mangroves, help prevent cyclones and reduce soil erosion. Wetlands absorb flood water, and trees on mountains provide a natural resistance against landsliding by holding the soil firmly with their roots. We must see what our priorities are, whether there should be short-term urban expansion or, more appropriately, long-term ecological sustenance.

Our problem is that if we have to make the model sustainable then this development must be aligned with humans’ well-being which perhaps remains inadvertently ignored. Over the years we have interrupted the natural flow of waterways. If we continue narrowing down the rivers’ flow by making roads, then in case of any natural calamity like flood it will only lead to devastation.

As far as planning, implementation, and coordination are concerned, the institutional gaps must be highlighted. Strictest accountability must be enforced and responsibility identified for ensuring that these measures are materialized into meaningful, result-oriented outcomes. Calling for transparency and exercising proper checks is all the more necessary in this respect.

One practical measure to undo the harm is to examine maps from 30 to 50 years ago. Then the spots may be highlighted where the naturally flowing watercourses are blocked by establishing the housing colonies. After these are identified, these waterways should be restored to their natural flow. As otherwise the human and financial losses will further increase.

The Environmental Protection Agency approval is also linked to the idea of development. Can we truly realize that development can be equated with clean air, trees, peaceful life and well-being? We must redefine development in our context. The concepts of human development have evolved. A new term by the name of multidimensional poverty has progressed. The new concept of a happiness index is in vogue.

We must be watchful of the fact that our exports cannot fight well in the competitive world. Why does elite culture take the country as a mere stop over, not a permanent place for living? Why do many rich people send their kids abroad for higher studies? The hard realities remain that 45 percent of people live below the poverty line. Over 20 million kids are out of schools. 

Our labour has a dearth of knowledge about technology and skills of modern times. Now the advancement in modern technology has changed the definition of human resource. A driver who is not well conversant in the use of modern tools like using the navigation through Google maps, the companies abroad will not hire him as a driver. If we are not ready to be compatible with the demands of the modern world, then the youth bulge will not be capital but a mere nuisance.

How competitive we are is the question. We need to thoroughly see things in a wider perspective. We need the population to be within the manageable limits. We have to simultaneously work on multiple fronts. In this context, vulnerability plans should be made mandatory for all stakeholders to ensure preparedness. 

There is a need for a survey to do mapping of flood plains. We must identify where water and runoff are generated when it comes to floodplains. There must be complete research into the areas where we have disturbed the floodplains. We must resort to climate-smart agriculture or climate-appropriate agriculture. Our farmer should know what kind of seeds he must sow and how to tackle the seasonal variation patterns. 

Deforestation is the biggest element of the microclimate, and we must realize the fact that cities and villages have a symbiotic relationship. Replacing green cover with concrete cover is the biggest cause of localized heat. Urban encroachment and industrial effluents also add to the overall temperature.

Finally, investing in wetlands for restoring the ecological balance, upgrading our public sector universities particularly enabling them to establish nanotechnology labs (which may be a long term strategic goal, apparently sounding ambitious, but it is achievable), equipping our labour force with modern technology and skills, introducing climate-smart agriculture, imposing regulations about deforestation, and enforcing them are some of the measures drastically required for overcoming the problems we are facing in the present day.

As far as planning, implementation, and coordination are concerned, the institutional gaps must be highlighted. Strictest accountability must be enforced and responsibility identified for ensuring that these measures are materialized into meaningful, result-oriented outcomes. Calling for transparency and exercising proper checks is all the more necessary in this respect.