The Indian villages, much more than its towns and cities, depend, directly or indirectly, on the earth’s natural resources. The Indian rural sector has high population density and high level of poverty which turns out to be a serious threat to the environment.
The village ecosystem
On account of its distinctive features, villages in India can be considered as an ecosystem. The village ecosystem depends for its functioning on the major bio-productive systems such as agricultural lands, grasslands, forest and wetland, which together form important physical resource base.
The practice of using non-renewable energy is very low in Indian villages. Agriculture is mostly based on human and animal labour, instead of oil and electricity. Tractor is used in some areas for tilling the land. Human and animal power is even used for lifting ground water. Local energy sources such as biogas, solar energy, firewood, and dung are mainly used for cooking.
Earlier, these practices didn’t cause much damage to the environment. But today rapidly increasing population and greater volumes of trade have led to the introduction of environmentally-damaging products like plastics and chemical pesticides. These are having an adverse impact on the environment. Lack of education and awareness is also contributing to the problem.
Encouraging local innovations
Local bodies can be made sustainable by encouraging and implementing local innovations by utilizing local resources and skills. It is also necessary to adopt innovative approaches for revenue generation by drawing upon advancements in technology, especially in power generation, information technology, biotechnology, etc.
To protect natural resource, the first basic need is to reach a threshold level where communities will be in a position to meet the most crucial basic needs of life. Issues like food and income security, health and medical care, education and literacy, safe and hygienic habitations, basic infrastructure etc., need to be addressed on a priority basis to meet these needs.
See a short video of a successful Biomass Gasifier alternative energy project by Sewa International at Karan Singhji ki Khedi a remote village in Rajasthan, India.
