SOCIAL ISSUES

1. BIHAR GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT CASTE-BASED SURVEY

TAGS: GS-I & II- SOCIETY AND SOCIAL ISSUES

THE CONTEXT: The government of Bihar, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is set to begin the first phase of a caste-based survey in the state. The survey, which is set to conclude on May 31, 2023, will be conducted in two phases.

THE EXPLANATION:

The first phase of the survey will involve counting and recording the number of all households in the state. This phase is set to run from January 7 to January 21, 2023 and will be carried out by 5.24 lakh surveyors. These surveyors, who are mostly teachers, agriculture coordinators, and government workers, will visit each of the 2.58 crore households in urban and rural areas across all 38 districts of the state. The survey is expected to cover an estimated population of 12.70 crore in Bihar.

Phase 2: Caste and Socio-Economic Information Collection

• The second phase of the survey will take place from April 1 to April 30, 2023 and will involve surveyors visiting each household to gather information about the caste of family members, their socio-economic profile, and their exposure to government welfare schemes. There will be 26 columns in the survey form for this phase, and all of the collected data will be uploaded to a portal.

Purpose of the Survey

• According to Bihar Chief Minister, the purpose of the survey is to create a detailed record of castes and communities in the state in order to aid in their development. The survey is expected to be particularly beneficial to the ruling parties of Bihar, the Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, as they have the support of many socially and economically disadvantaged caste groups. The survey report will allow for more effective implementation of welfare schemes for these groups.

Data Collection Methods

• Data for the survey will be collected digitally through a mobile application as part of an eight-level survey process from the panchayat to the district level. The app will include questions about the place of residence, caste, number of people in the family, their profession, and their annual income. Information will also be collected about family members who are living outside the state.

Difference between SECC and Census

Census

The Census provides a picture of the Indian population

Census falls under the Census Act of 1948 and all data are considered confidential

SECC

SECC is a tool to identify beneficiaries of state support

All the personal information given in the SECC is open for use by Government departments to grant and/or restrict benefits to households.

HEALTH ISSUES

2. INDIA’S KALA-AZAR CASES DECLINED 98.7%

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-II-HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT: According to the Union Health Minister, Kala-azar cases in India fell to 834 in 2022 from 44,533 in 2007 — a 98.7 per cent decline.

THE EXPLANATION:

• As many as 632 endemic blocks (99.8 per cent) spread across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal have received elimination status (less than one case per 10,000), the minister added. He was chairing a high-level review meeting on the status of the disease in these four endemic states.
• Only one block (Littipara) of Pakur district, Jharkhand is in the endemic category (1.23 cases / 10,000 population).
• After malaria, kala-azar is the deadliest parasitic disease in the world. It is one of the three conditions in the disease group called leishmaniasis caused by the protozoa parasite Leishmania. The parasite is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected female phlebotomine sandfly, a tiny 2-3 mm long insect vector, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Visceral leishmaniasis or kala-azar is the most serious form of the disease and as of November 2022, about 89 per cent of the global cases were reported from eight countries: Brazil, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan, WHO noted. India contributes 11.5 per cent of total cases reported globally.

VALUE ADDITION:

What is Kala Azar Disease?

Kala Azar or black fever is a disease caused by infection with Leishmania parasites. It is transmitted by female sandfly – Phlebotomus argentipes. It is also known as visceral leishmaniasis or black fever or Dum-Dum fever.

Types:

Cutaneous leishmaniasis:

• This is another form of Kala-azar which results in skin lesions – mainly ulcers on the exposed parts of the body, which creates scars and serious disability. The lesions usually are painless but can be painful, particularly if open sores become infected with bacteria. Types of Cutaneous leishmaniasis:

Mucosal Leishmaniasis:

• In this type of Cutaneous leishmaniasis, the infection results from the dissemination of parasites from the skin to the naso-oropharyngeal mucosa.
• Symptoms
• Initially, leishmania parasites cause skin sores or ulcers at the site of the bite. If the disease progresses, it attacks the immune system.
• Kala azar presents after two to eight months with more generalized symptoms including prolonged fever and weakness.

Treatment: Treatment of Kala Azar is done through liposomal AmB – this is the drug of choice for immunocompetent patients. There are other treatment options available such as paromomycin, miltefosine and multidrug therapy treatment.

PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

3. WORLD’S FIRST PALM-LEAF MANUSCRIPT MUSEUM IN KERALA

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT:The recently opened Palm Leaf Manuscript Museum in Thiruvananthapuram has added to the cultural and intellectual life of the state of Kerala.

THE EXPLANATION:

The museum, which is the world’s first of its kind, contains 187 manuscripts and other artefacts related to the former Travancore kingdom from 650 AD until the end of the 19th century. It also has documents from the regions of Kochi and Malabar.

Exhibits at the Museum

• The museum’s exhibits include palm leaf manuscripts, styluses, carriers for Cadjan bundles, copper plates, and bamboo splints. The museum is divided into eight galleries, each focused on a different aspect of Travancore history, including “History of Writing,” “Land and People,” “Administration,” “War and Peace,” “Education and Health,” “Economy,” “Art and Culture,” and “Mathilakam Records.” Some galleries also include films and QR code technology for gathering additional information.
• The museum is particularly notable for its manuscripts, which are written on cured and treated palm leaves and contain primary source material on a variety of topics. One of the most famous manuscripts is the account of the Battle of Colachel, in which Travancore’s AnizhamThirunalMarthanda Varma defeated the Dutch East India Company in 1741. This battle put a halt to Dutch expansion in India and cemented Travancore’s place as a major power in the region.
• The museum is divided into eight galleries representing different segments of Travancore history: ‘History of Writing’, ‘Land and people’, ‘Administration’, ‘War and peace’, ‘Education and Health’, ‘Economy’, ‘Art and culture’, and ‘Mathilakam Records’. These galleries also include films and QR code technologies for gathering information.

Conservation Efforts

• The Palm Leaf Manuscript Museum was created as part of a larger conservation effort by the state of Kerala. The museum is located in a three-century-old building that is home to the Central Archives for the state government. The first phase of the museum’s collection was selected from 1.5 crore (15 million) palm leaf records that had been poorly preserved throughout the state.
• The manuscripts at the museum provide important information on the development of writing in the area, including the evolution of the Malayalam script from earlier systems like Vattezhuthu and Kolezhuthu. They also offer insights into the complex administrative systems, proclamations of the Travancore royals, and international negotiations and agreements that shaped the kingdom’s history.
• The Palm Leaf Manuscript Museum is a valuable resource for both general visitors and specialized researchers. It offers a glimpse into the rich history of the Travancore kingdom and helps to fill in gaps in our understanding of Kerala’s past. The museum’s audio-visual technology and multimedia exhibits make it an engaging and informative experience for all who visit.

4. HAWAII’S KILAUEA VOLCANO ERUPTS

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-1- GEOGRAPHY

THE CONTEXT:Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, one of the world’s most active, erupted again releasing lava fountains and discharges of volcanic ash into the air.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory detected a glow in webcam images indicating Kilauea had begun erupting inside Halemaumau crater at the volcano’s summit caldera. The observatory raised Kilauea’s alert level lowered it from warning to watch because the initial high effusion rates are declining and no infrastructure is threatened. The observatory expects the eruption to remain in the summit.
• There is generally a three-month cooling off period before scientists consider an eruption to be complete. It is currently unclear why both Kilauea and Mauna Loa ceased erupting at around the same time in December 2021.

Cultural and Spiritual Significance

• Volcanic eruptions hold significant cultural and spiritual meanings for native Hawaiians. During the Mauna Loa eruption in November 2021, many Hawaiians participated in traditional practices such as singing, chanting, and dancing in honor of Pele, the god of fire and volcanoes.

About Kilauea Volcano

• The Kilauea volcano is the most active of the five volcanoes that make up the Island of Hawaii. It is a shield volcano, which is a type of volcano composed of fluid lava and characterized by its vast lava flow.
• Kilauea has two active rift zones and a recently formed caldera, a massive depression formed when the ground surface collapses into an emptied magma chamber. The pit crater within Kilauea is called Halemaumau, which contained a lava lake before it began erupting in multiple locations in 2018.

Kilauea’s Last Eruptions

• This is not the first time Kilauea has erupted in recent years. It last erupted for 16 months starting in September 2021, and for about two weeks in November 2021, Hawaii had two volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa, spewing lava side by side.

5. WORLD’S FIRST VACCINE FOR HONEYBEES GETS CONDITIONAL NOD IN US

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted a conditional license for a vaccine for honeybees to curb American foulbrood (AFB), a fatal bacterial disease for the insect.

THE EXPLANATION:

• US has approved the first-ever vaccine for honey bees which will confer protection from the American foulbrood disease, raising hopes of a new weapon against diseases that routinely ravage colonies that are relied upon for food pollination. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has permitted a conditional license for a vaccine, developed by a US-based biotech company.
• The vaccine, which contains an inactivated form of the causative bacteria, will be administered along with the royal jelly feed given by the worker bees to the queen bee. The developing bee larvae, being exposed to the vaccine, will have immunity to the foulbrood disease when they hatch. This will cut down the death rates associated with the disease, claims the company.

There is no cure for the foulbrood disease:

• American foulbrood (AFB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae that can weaken and kill honey bee colonies. Currently, there is no cure for this contagious disease.
• Beekeepers follow one treatment method and that is to destroy and burn the infected hives and administer antibiotics to the nearby colonies in order to curb the spread of the disease.

1. What does it take to become self-realised? READ MORE
2. Happiness: it’s limitless READ MORE
3. Practice forgiveness for good relations READ MORE

1. Some Truths on How India’s Groundwater Management Programme Is Progressing READ MORE
2. Draconian, Toothless~I
3. Environmental Consciousness on a Spectrum READ MORE

1. Another depressing year of normalised gendered violence READ MORE
2. Not protection, women need autonomy, equality READ MORE

1. Political parties are not like companies READ MORE
2. The judicial pendency question: How to lighten the court’s load READ MORE
3. Why is the GST Tribunal a non-starter? READ MORE
4. Curb online gaming READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. New electrolyte found can help better ammonia synthesis READ MORE  
2. Supreme Court thwarts eviction from Railway land in Haldwani READ MORE
3. Endangered Asian elephant has lost most of its optimal habitat in Nilgiri Reserve: Study READ MORE
4. UGC unveils draft norms to allow foreign universities to set up campuses in India READ MORE
5. Decennial census put off till September to freeze boundaries READ MORE
6. Guyana, Suriname Presidents to attend Pravasi Bharatiya Divas READ MORE
7. Covid XBB, BQ lineages most common in international fliers READ MORE
8. World’s first vaccine for honeybees gets conditional nod in US READ MORE
9. Antibiotic residues in wastewater may trigger antimicrobial resistance in India, China: Study READ MORE
10. Did war in Ukraine drive more migratory birds to Chilika lake in Odisha? READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. Another depressing year of normalised gendered violence READ MORE
2. Not protection, women need autonomy, equality READ MORE
3. Some Truths on How India’s Groundwater Management Programme Is Progressing READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Political parties are not like companies READ MORE
2. The judicial pendency question: How to lighten the court’s load READ MORE
3. Why is the GST Tribunal a non-starter? READ MORE
4. Curb online gaming READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: Making healthcare accessible, the digital way READ MORE
2. Uniform Civil Code necessary for gender justice READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The crisis in international law READ MORE
2. India’s G20 Presidency: Forging global solidarity READ MORE
3. India needs to double down on its China policy READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Explained | India’s plan to develop green hydrogen READ MORE
2. Explained | The millet mission READ MORE
3. Global Economy: In 2023, Central Banks Will Have to Battle Inflation Amid Political Obstacles READ MORE
4. Why India’s Balance of Payments is Headed for Hard Times READ MORE
5. Mitigating Risks in Agriculture: The inefficacy of crop insurance in times of growing weather volatility can be debilitating. READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Draconian, Toothless~I
2. Environmental Consciousness on a Spectrum READ MORE

 SECURITY

1. Armed drones in Indian military: Can machines understand the rules of war? READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. What does it take to become self-realised? READ MORE
2. Happiness: it’s limitless READ MORE
3. Practice forgiveness for good relations READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Discuss the importance of international laws for foreign policy. In the light of the recent developments in international politics, analyse why India needs to incorporate these laws in its foreign policy?
2. ‘Despite its claims of independence and impartiality, the collegium system is plagued by serious weaknesses and flaws that have had a detrimental impact on the functioning of the judiciary’. Examine.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Effort and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.
• India needs to engage in a critical study of international law and utilise it to effectively conduct its foreign policy and engage in lawfare.
• India has been acquiring a central stage in world affairs and international order in the recent years. Besides benefits, this has brought challenges also like the China factor, terrorism in the near neighbourhood, issues relating to carbon emissions and climate compensation and reduced multilateralism.
• India is a prime example of suffering at the hands of partisan views and narrow geopolitical aims against terrorism.
• If something is legally correct, it does not automatically become constitutionally sound.
• As we prioritise the integrity and independence of the judiciary, it is crucial to address the flaws in the appointment process and seek a solution that ensures fair and impartial judicial appointments.
• Despite its claims of independence and impartiality, the collegium system is plagued by serious weaknesses and flaws that have had a detrimental impact on the functioning of the judiciary.
• The government has been criticised for selectively appointing some of the judges recommended by the collegium while delaying or ignoring the appointments of others, thereby altering the seniority of the judges.
• Digital technology with digital learning when put to good use will open its gate to digital opportunity i.e. it will lead to opening of new possibilities which will further lead to communication, social networking, collaboration, content management and access to analytics data, along with staff and customer satisfaction.
• There should be widespread public consultation to ensure that economic rights, individual freedoms, and social imperatives remain in balance.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Humanities develop a rounded personality

50-WORD TALK

• From being an outspoken advocate of the Chinese government’s COVID-19 response in 2020 when the virus first stuck the world to now asking its leadership to track it, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus may have taken the path of course correction. But WHO’s credibility will be hard to re-establish.
• The deadly Ukrainian rocket strikes on Russian soldiers in Makiivka—killing at least 63, perhaps hundreds—demonstrate President Vladimir Putin’s military is technologically and tactically outclassed. Putin can continue obliterating Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure but at the price of his country’s economic future. The world needs to push Putin to end unwinnable war.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

THE CONTEXT: Recently, a PIL was filed in Supreme Court to issue directions to the Kerala government to not implement the Gadgil committee report as no space is available to displace the population within the state. There are large groups completely dependent on agriculture, and banning the cultivation of several crops will affect their livelihood. Though valid to a certain extent, yet it negates the larger issue of environmental crisis manifested in Kerala flood and such other issues. This raises a paradox on the discourse between Democracy and Ecology. In this context, we will study in detail about the reports of different commissions on conservation and preservation of biodiversity in western ghats and what are the issues in implementing their recommendations.

ABOUT WESTERN GHATS

• The Western Ghats is a mountain range that runs from the western coast of Peninsular India. Older than the Himalaya Mountains, they are also known as Sahyadri.
• A significant characteristic of the Western Ghats is the exceptionally high level of biological diversity and endemism. This mountain chain is recognized as one of the world’s eight ‘hottest hotspots’ of biological diversity along with Sri Lanka.
• It begins near the border of Gujarat and stretches down 1600 km through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala ,Goa and Tamil Nadu covering around 160,000 km2 of the area.
• It has an exceptionally high level of biological diversity and endemism and is recognized as one of the world’s eight ‘hottest hotspots’ of biological diversity.
• The forests of the site include some of the best representatives of non-equatorial tropical evergreen forests anywhere and are home to at least 325 globally threatened flora, fauna, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish species.

MADHAV GADGIL COMMITTEE REPORT ON THE WESTERN GHATS?

Gadgil Commission, an environmental research commission is named after its chairman Madhav Gadgil. The commission is formally known as Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP). The commission submitted the report to the Government of India on 31 August 2011.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE GADGIL COMMITTEE

• The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) designated the entire hill range as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).
• The panel, in its report, has classified the 142 taluks in the Western Ghats boundary into Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ) 1, 2 and 3.
• ESZ-1 being of high priority, almost all developmental activities (mining, thermal power plants etc) were restricted in it.
• The extent of existing Protected Areas plus ESZ1 will not normally exceed 60% of the total area. And the extent of area covered by existing Protected Areas plus ESZ1 and ESZ2 together will be around 75% and the extent of ESZ3 will normally be around 25% of the total area.
• Gadgil report recommended that “no new dams based on large-scale storage be permitted in Ecologically Sensitive Zone 1. Since both the Athirappilly of Kerala and Gundia of Karnataka hydel project sites fall in Ecologically Sensitive Zone 1, these projects should not be accorded environmental clearance,” it said.
• In Ecologically Sensitive Zone 1 and 2 no new license for mining and No new polluting (red and orange category) industries to be given while in Ecologically Sensitive Zone 3 new mining and setting up of New polluting industries may be taken up only under strict regulation and social audit . Agriculture activities are allowed by phasing out the use of chemical fertilizers in all the three zones.
• Gadgil Committee report specifies that the present system of governance of the environment should be changed. It asked for a bottom to top approach (right from Gram sabhas) rather than a top to bottom approach. It also asked for decentralization and more powers to local authorities.
• The commission recommended the constitution of a Western Ghats Ecology Authority (WGEA), as a statutory authority under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, with the powers under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

WHAT WAS THE NEED FOR THE KASTURIRANGAN COMMITTEE SUBSEQUENTLY?

• None of the six concerned states accepted the Gadgil committee report.
• In August 2012, a High-Level Working Group on Western Ghats under Kasturirangan was constituted to “examine” the Gadgil Committee report in a “holistic and multidisciplinary fashion in the light of responses received” from various stakeholders.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE KASTURIRANGAN COMMITTEE

• Instead of the total area of Western Ghats, only 37% (i.e. 60,000 sq. km.) of the total area be brought under ESA under Kasturirangan report.
• A complete ban on mining, quarrying and sand mining in ESA.
• Distinguished between cultural (58% occupied in the Western Ghats by it like human settlements, agricultural fields and plantations) and natural landscape (90% of it should come under ESA according to the committee).
• Current mining areas in the ESA should be phased out within the next five years, or at the time of expiry of mining lease, whichever is earlier.
• No thermal power be allowed, and hydropower projects are allowed only after detailed study.
• Red industries i.e. which are highly polluting be strictly banned in these areas.
• Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats has made several pro-farmer recommendations, including the exclusion of inhabited regions and plantations from the purview of ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs).
• The Kasturirangan report had said 123 villages fall under the ESA purview.

COMPARISON OF MADHAV GADGIL REPORT AND KASTURIRANGAN REPORT

GADGIL REPORT

• Recommended that the entire stretch of the western ghats should be declared an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA)
• It divided the region into three zones-ESZ1, ESZ2 & ESZ3 and gave a broad outline of certain restrictions for each zone
• It recommended the determination of an area as ESZ1 or ESZ2 or ESZ3 be done at the block/taluka level
• No new polluting industries (red and orange category) were to be permitted in ESZ1&ESZ2.Existing industries were to be phased out by 2016.

KASTURIRANGAN REPORT

• Divided the western ghats into two: natural landscape and cultural landscape
• Of the natural landscape, it picked out merely 37% as “biologically rich” and “with some measure of contiguity”. Any restrictions were only placed in this area
• It proposed the demarcation of ESA be done at the village level
• Only red category industries (heavily polluting such as mining) were completely restricted

WHY STATE GOVERNMENT’S NOT IMPLEMENTING THE REPORT?

BARRIER TO DEVELOPMENT

• The state government believes that implementation of the report will halt the developmental activities in the region.
• Karnataka Government states that it has the distinction of being one of the states with extensive forest cover and the government has taken care to protect the biodiversity of Western Ghats.

GROUND REALITY

• The Kasturirangan report has been prepared based on the satellite images, but the ground reality is different.
• People of the region have adopted agriculture and horticultural activities in an eco-friendly manner.
• Priority has been accorded for environment protection under the Forest Protection Act.
• In this background bringing one more law that would affect the livelihood of the local people is not appropriate.

PEOPLE’S PROTEST

• The political representatives from Uttara Kannada district have always opposed the Kasturirangan report since 600-plus villages will fall under the eco-sensitive area if the report is implemented.

PRESENT STATUS

• While there is a growing concern over the forest encroachments in Karnataka, the state government has planned to further shrink the deemed forest area from 3,30,186.938 hectares to 2 lakh hectares.

REINVENTING DEMOCRACY

Seventy-five years since Independence, it is now acutely clear that we need to rethink this paradigm of development altogether since it has failed to balance economic interests with social costs. This model of development promises equality, but in reality, it privileges corporate interests. Displacement has been one of the major consequences of this process, particularly the displacement of tribals and other marginalised communities.

ISSUES IN THE PESA (PROVISIONS OF THE PANCHAYATS EXTENSION TO SCHEDULED AREAS) ACT, 1996 IN DEMOCRATIC DECENTRALISATION

• Social audits conducted across the state have also pointed out that in reality different developmental schemes were being approved on paper by Gram Sabha, without actually having any meeting for discussion and decision making which results into respond by the localities for eg: “Pathalgarhi movement” by the tribals who basically seeks for autonomy.

ISSUES IN THE FOREST RIGHTS ACT

• The main barriers with regard to implementation relate to the structural conditions, which define the power of the state vs powerlessness of the scheduled tribes and other forest dependent communities.
• The current growth model which is basically top to bottom approach has systematically perpetuated high levels of inequality, which reflects on competing interests over the rich base of natural resources- land, minerals, water and forest. To elaborate more, three significant barriers, which impede the realisation of forest rights.

A clash of ideas: for a brighter future

IMPACT OF THE NON-IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REPORT ON THE WESTERN GHATS

• There have been a lot of evident climatic changes like temperature increase, excess floods, droughts etc. such incidents will further increase.
• Gadgil called on the authorities to take immediate measures to preserve Kerala’s natural environment, especially in the ecologically fragile Western Ghats region. Gadgil also urged the state government to impose a ban on industrial and mining activities in the area and strictly regulate development work but the environmental expert says the government did not pay heed to his recommendations Which results into deadly floods in Kerala.
• The impacts include pollution (noise, air and groundwater), depletion of fisheries, deforestation, siltation of water bodies and loss of unique biodiversity among many others. The report claimed that there are also numerous illegal activities in these areas causing these problems.

THE WAY FORWARD

To eradicate poverty and increase growth in the economy, development is mandatory. Without economic development, a nation cannot come out of the vicious circle of poverty. As our population grows, finding a balance between economic advancement and consumption of natural resources is a vital question that we should address.

• ECO-TOURISM: Eco-tourism is ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation, and conservation. Thus,ecotourism needs to be promoted in western ghats.
• JOINT FOREST MANAGEMENT (JFM): The rationale behind Joint Forest Management (JFM) approach is that the willing and active participation of the Forest Department with the local community is essential for ensuring regeneration, conservation, protection and sustainable use of forest resources. JFM is to be considered as cost-effective approach for the regeneration and conservation of forest apart from meeting the diverse needs of the local communities.
• ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE: Good environmental governance which limits the exploitation of natural resources to sustainable levels.

THE CASE STUDY CONSERVATION BY EXCLUSION- SOLIGAS OF BRT HILLS

BRT hills are a forest covered range in Karnataka to the east of the Nilgiris. It is the traditional homeland of Soliga tribals, who earlier practised hunting-gathering and shifting cultivation. They have protected a large sacred grove, harbouring a magnificent Michelia champaca tree. When this area was declared a Wild Life Sanctuary, Soligas could no longer hunt or practice shifting cultivation. So gathering of honey, medicinal plants and amla became the mainstay of their subsistence. A voluntary organization, Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra, has organized them effectively and helped set up a system of regulated collection, processing and marketing of forest produce. A scientific institution, ATREE, has been engaged in a study of the Soliga forest produce collection practices and their impact on resource stocks. They have come to the conclusion that these practices are entirely sustainable. The Soliga earnings had also improved because of their own processing industry. Most regrettably, the Forest Department has banned all collection of forest produce for marketing, forcing Soligas into destitution.

THE CONCLUSION: There is a need to find solutions to the problem of power shortage, paucity of drinking water, poverty and unemployment, without forgetting the fact that ecological biodiversity needs to be recognized as an integral part of the human and cultural landscape as well as the natural one. Everyone agrees that one must strike a fine balance between conservation, preservation and development and ensure that they can go hand in hand; but this is easier said than done.

QUESTION FOR MAINS EXAMINATION:

Q1.Explain the significance of western ghats for India. Suggest some innovative ways to conserve the biodiversity of the region.
Q2.Is it possible to strike a balance between developmental imperatives of a growing economy like India and the limits to growth imposed by environmental degradation? Critically analyse.