Q.19 Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people’s needs in a country like India – Comment. (UPSC CSE 2025, GS PAPER-1) (Answer in 250 words 15 marks)

Introduction:

The Brundtland Commission defines sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” In India, with 228.9 million multidimensionally poor people (UNDP MPI, 2023), balancing environmental sustainability and urgent poverty alleviation presents a challenge—often pitting long-term ecological goals against immediate economic and livelihood needs.

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Conflict between sustainable growth and poor people’s needs:

In India, sustainable growth measures—like forest conservation, energy transition, and eco restoration—often adversely impact the poor, who rely on natural resources and informal settlements for survival. Regulations, while ecologically necessary, can displace communities, restrict livelihoods, and limit access to basic services, unless accompanied by inclusive planning and social safeguards.

OTHER EXAMPLES OF URBAN REDEVELPMENT AND DISPLACEMENT OF POOR

• • In 2023, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) demolished hundreds of unauthorized slum dwellings in areas like Jahangirpuri and Okhla, displacing thousands of low-income families under the pretext of urban beautification and floodplain restoration.
  • In Faridabad, between 2022 and 2024, large-scale slum clearances in sectors 15 and 31 led to eviction of over 10,000 residents, citing infrastructure development and road widening projects, with inadequate rehabilitation offered.
  • The rapid expansion of commercial zones and luxury housing projects in Gurugram led to forced evictions in Basai slum and nearby informal settlements during 2023–2024, impacting around 8,000 people and raising concerns over lack of alternative housing.
  • In June 2025, about 30 shops in Varanasi’s Lanka crossing including the century old iconic shops were demolished for road expansion. Similarly, in 2019, around 300 houses and shops were cleared in Pucca Mahal for the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project.
  • Between 2022–2023, 1,53,820 homes were demolished across India, displacing over 7,38,438 individuals, largely under the pretext of slum clearance or beautification. In 2023 alone, 5,15,752 people were forced out, with 59% of evictions linked to these narratives.

Environmental Protection Can Actually Support the Poor:

Environmental protection, when implemented inclusively, can act as a powerful enabler of poverty reduction. The poor are disproportionately vulnerable to environmental degradation and climate induced disasters, yet they benefit the most from ecosystem restoration, clean energy, and pollution control.

Conflict between sustainability and poverty isn’t inevitable but stems from flawed policies. Participatory, equity-focused approaches—like organic farming in Sikkim and initiatives such as LiFE, NAFCC, and PM PRANAM, show that inclusive environmental governance can harmonize ecological preservation with socio-economic development.

Way Forward:

A multi-pronged, integrated strategy involving just transition, community empowerment, inclusive urban development, and financial innovation is essential for India to ensure that its environmental goals do not come at the expense of the poor but instead contribute to their long-term empowerment and resilience.

Conclusion:

While conflicts between environmental protection and the needs of the poor do occur, they are not inherent or insurmountable. With inclusive planning, participatory governance, and appropriate investment in green livelihoods, India can turn this challenge into an opportunity. Sustainable development must be pro poor, and poverty alleviation must be sustainable ensuring that development does not come at the cost of either the poor or the planet.