Traditional knowledge in health and medicine refers to the practices, skills, and know-how passed down through generations, often within specific cultural communities. It encompasses the use of plants, animals, minerals, and other natural resources for treating various ailments, based on empirical knowledge developed over time. In India, and other parts of the world, traditional medicine…
Tag: politics
The 5 M’s in Production Technology & Alternative Manufacturing Paradigm
The 5 M’s—Man, Machine, Material, Method, and Measurement—comprise the core inputs and processes in any production system: 1. Man (Human Resources) 2. Machine (Equipment and Automation) 3. Material (Raw Materials and Inputs) 4. Method (Processes and Workflows) 5. Measurement (Monitoring and Control) Alternative Manufacturing Technological Paradigm An alternative manufacturing paradigm shifts away from traditional mass…
Priority Areas for Government Action in Sustainable Development
Governments play a pivotal role in steering national and international sustainable development efforts. Four priority areas where policy intervention can yield significant, long-term benefits are: 1. Policy and Regulatory Frameworks 2. Investment in Green Infrastructure 3. Education, Research, and Capacity Building 4. Social Equity and Inclusion Indigenous and Local Communities: Recognize community land rights, traditional…
Role of Information Technology in Environment and Human Health
Information Technology (IT), which includes computing, data storage, telecommunications, and remote sensing, plays a transformative role in the domains of environmental management and public health. The speed, accuracy, and connectivity offered by IT are essential for collecting, processing, analyzing, and disseminating vast environmental and health data. 1. Environmental Monitoring and Management IT enables real-time monitoring…
Principles of Environmental Education
Environmental Education (EE) is a process of recognizing values and clarifying concepts in order to develop skills and attitudes necessary to understand and appreciate the interrelatedness among human beings, their culture, and their biophysical surroundings. It involves practice in decision-making and self-formulation of a code of behavior about issues concerning environmental quality. The UNESCO Tbilisi…
Sustainable Development of Hill Areas
Hill and mountain regions such as the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, and the Aravallis in India are ecologically fragile yet economically vital. These regions are sources of biodiversity, fresh water, and medicinal plants and play a vital role in maintaining climatic and hydrological balance. However, these areas face challenges like deforestation, soil erosion, landslides, overgrazing,…
Role of Agriculture in Sustainable Development
Agriculture is central to the concept of sustainable development, especially in developing countries like India, where a large portion of the population relies directly on agriculture for livelihood, food security, and cultural identity. Sustainable development in agriculture refers to practices that meet current food needs without compromising the environment or the ability of future generations…
Classification of Industry on the Basis of Capital Investment
Industries can be classified in various ways—by nature of activity, size, ownership, etc. One important basis of classification is the amount of capital investment, which reflects the scale of operations and technological sophistication. In India, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) classifies industries as follows: 1. Micro Industry Micro industries are essential…
Appropriate Technology and Its Conditions
Definition of Appropriate Technology The concept of appropriate technology was popularized by economist E.F. Schumacher in his influential book “Small is Beautiful: A Study of Economics as if People Mattered” (1973). It refers to technology that is suitable to the environmental, cultural, social, and economic context of the people using it. It emphasizes local needs,…
Concept of Carrying Capacity and Ecological Footprint
Carrying Capacity: Meaning and Significance Carrying capacity refers to the maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely, given the availability of food, habitat, water, and other necessary resources. In the context of human societies, it is the ability of Earth to support human life without degrading natural resources and ecosystems….
Sustainable Development and Its Objectives
Definition of Sustainable Development Sustainable development is a holistic approach to growth that aims to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The most widely accepted definition was provided in the 1987 report of the World Commission on Environment and Development (commonly known…
Why Should the Ecosystem Be Conserved? Explain.
Ecosystems—comprising living organisms and their physical environments—are the foundation of all life on Earth. Their conservation is essential for ecological balance, biodiversity preservation, and sustaining human life. 1. Provision of Essential Services Ecosystems provide crucial services such as clean air and water, soil fertility, pollination of crops, climate regulation, and waste decomposition. Forests, for instance,…