Aparigraha the Humane Solution

Author(s): Kamla Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 51

ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION-RISK TO HUMAN SURVIVAL 43
Prime Minister. Therafter she formed a Ministry of Environment in India. Since then, India has shown concern about environment protection, but we are playing a double game simultaneously. On the one hand we are carrying on with indiscreet industrialisation and on the other hand we want to keep the environment clean and want to preserve it. The question is how far is this possible? Does it make sense to pollute the Ganga with tons and tons of waste thrown into it, and simultaneously plan a campaign to clean the river spending crores of Rupees? Expanding industrialisation and preserving the environment - can the two go together? Unless we are very discreet and selective in setting up industries, the answer is no.
Western countries have adopted a very clever approach towards environment protection. They enact laws to ban certain industries in their own countries in view of the environmental hazards they entail, but cleverly set up those very industries in some remote corner of India by arguing that these industries will generate employment for the rural people, the danger of this is increasing in a situation where India is going ahead with a policy of economic liberalisation and with statecontrol taking a back-seat. In view of our corrupt political, and administrative scenario, when anything harmful can be projected as useful or useful as harmful, where self-interest is the only guiding factor for those who are important and are in seats of power, environmentprotection thus remains words on paper or just an ornamental concept to prove that India can be as concerned about such issues as the West. With continuance of economic inequalities and increasing acc
acceptance of the philosophy of liberalisation how would it be possible to save the environment and save those who are directly affected by its destruction. The whole scenario looks bleak.
We have to think of an alternative life-style, where the first thing that needs to be dropped is blind imitation, with the top priority of saving mankind and nature.
Village-culture or ethnic-culture has come into vogue in urban India. Every house seems to be a mini-village-home. This superficially exhibits our love for rural India and its culture, and love for the