Question 1(d) · 306 words written
Social movements are organised collective action of group of people aimed at common objective.
Opening
Neil J Smelser in his structural strain theory says a feeling of relative deprivation is essential for a social movement.
In post-independence India, social movements have been led by civil societies, peasants, women, pressure groups to change policies for their good or to address discrimination.
The Naxalbari Movement was for land reform in west Bengal. The Chipko Movement under Sundarlal Bahuguna aimed to protect trees. The recent anti-corruption movement demanded a transparent Lokpal.
Women movement, according to Gail Omvedt, have been aimed at equality. The Nirbhaya Rape instigated movement for stopping crime against women.
Body · continuous prose
Dalit Panther movement of 1970s were aimed at addressing wrong done to the backward class.
Close
Given the diversity and magnitude of Indian society, social movements are important to create awareness and address injustice.
1(e) Development is the process of greater economic growth coupled with social equity and ecological sustenance.
But the sustainability of environment is being threatened by irrational development. In India, daily 300 acres of forest land is diverted to developmental purposes. Himalayan mountain range has world's largest number of dams.
Sustainable development mandates usage of resources in a rational way so that future generations too can use it.
However, the race for the green currency notes has led to emission of harmful green house gases that cause ozone depletion.
Legislations like the National Green Tribunal Act, Forest Right Act are welcome steps but their effective implementation remains a challenge.
Be it the Tamong hydroelectric Plant endangering local ecology or bauxite mining by Vedanta in Odisha, development in the guise of exploitation has threatened sustenance of environment.
We as humans must preserve our mother earth from indiscriminate exploitation lest we ourselves become an extinct species. Mahatma Gandhi truly remarked- Nature has enough for everybody's need but not for greed.
Ghanshyam Shah sees irrational development as cause of distress migration and inequality.