Environmental Ethics

Author(s): S M Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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standard construction and materials even in structures of national and international importance, viz. dams, canals, railways, bridges and roads although fully aware of the harmful consequences. A forest officer who knows maximum about importance of forests, indulges in illicit fellings for personal greed. A drug addict even kills a person, steals costly ornaments and sells them for pittance just to satisfy his immediate need. The main cause of growing corruption is alienation of individual from society i.e. from symbiotic to predatory attitude and action. The malaise is so wide-spread that law enforcing agencies collaborate and connive with law breakers, thieves and murderers and industrialists who spill pollutants all over. Even the judges sell justice and outstanding scientists trade in nuclear arm secrets. Teachers getting hefty salaries do not teach in classes but force students to pay them heavily for private tutions. Eminent educationists leak papers and take bribes to award Ph.Ds. and even from examinees. There are cases of abetment with terrorists, criminals by politicians, security agencies and others. This is all because of individualism, personal greed without any concern for harm to others, society, nation or even entire mankind.
There are innumerable examples in day to day life. Even an ordinary clerk can do incalculable harm if not paid bribe even for genuine work of persons. Personal greed is so pervading that even life-saving drugs, instruments etc. purchased in hospitals are substandard and then not maintained or utilised. There is lot of corruption in defence purchases where officers take bribes even in supply of rations for jawans and horses and even in ammunition and other arms. The corruption has grown so much that only 15% of development funds reach the beneficiaries and rest are pocketed by functionaries, government servants and even by cooperatives and gram panchayat executives (Late Rajiv Gandhi PM of India corroborated this). The knowledge and expertise by selfish persons is utilised more for personal greed devising
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