What can the public do now to have a sustainable future?

 

It is an old saying by our elders that ‘if you want to have a bright future then you have to start working for now.’ In the case of bringing sustainable development, we should start working from now itself. The United Nations integrated with other countries has agreed to come up with a sustainable society by solving the global level issues that are refraining the present to get developed. Organizations and individuals of other countries have also taken active participation in this noble agenda by the united nation that should be achieved by 2020. The social ripples are inspired by the United Nations agenda of developing and changing the world for a better future, advocates that government and organizations can never help completely in bringing sustainability till every individual takes personal efforts to change the things in the surrounding. 

What does it mean to have a sustainable future?

The process of having a sustainable future is all about using the resources to meet the present needs of the people, by ensuring the ability of future generations to use them in the future. It means that the resources should be conserved by using them mindfully and making sure that their present use is not leading the resources to be depleted in the coming future. The concept of sustainable development is not limited only to the environment, but it is altogether about the social, economical, and ecological development of an individual. To make the future sustainable, every individual should start working from now. Nearly 40 percent of the population in the world lives under the poverty line. The United Nations aims to create an environment with which their social and economic well-being is raised.

The following are some measures that can be done by the public to have a sustainable future.

Limited use of resources:

Charity begins at home; if we want to have a sustainable future, we need to use the path of energy conservation so that future generations can use them at best. 

Installing energy-efficient appliances such as solar panels can help you to conserve electricity and use solar energy effectively. In addition to it, turning off the electrical appliances whenever not in use will help to preserve electricity for the future. 

Go green:

Many of the health issues are caused by the toxins released from the trash. The diseases are fatal for the health and well-being of the population. Using disposable products and disposing of the disposables will help us with a clean, clear, and hygienic environment.

Less reliance on transport:

Fossil fuels will be extinct and will make the environment unhealthy for the people living on earth. Hence, the social ripples promote the effects of using public transport instead of private cars that will help with a clean environment and the perseverance of fossil fuels for future generations.

Save water:

Water scarcity is one of the important issues faced by the populations in most of the countries. Sometimes, the reason is a lack of natural resources. Global warming is also one of the reasons behind the scarcity of water. Conserving water outdoors, using water-saving water heads, planting trees, and changing the irrigation system are some of the smaller steps common people can take to save water. 

Depending less on bottled water:

Depending on bottled water is the cause of increasing plastic pollution. Plastic is neither reusable nor disposable. Hence, we should make less use of the bottles water and prefer tap water to quench our thirst. It will help us to reduce pollution due to plastic.

Taking small steps towards a healthy environment will help the present generation to create a sustainable future for further generations.

UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IDEAS - The Social Ripples

 The United Nations has given the world a new dream of an inclusive society. It has created various goals and objectives that will change the current situation of the society. Its focus is on bringing sustainable development in the world by 2030. For that, it has created 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) that have given a direction towards a better and sustainable society. Sustainable means anything that remains forever or long-lasting. UN's sustainable development goals refer to a long-lasting sustainable along with a happy society. UN has created these sustainable goals that work over 17 different areas. The United Nations recognized the need for development in the world. Hence, the UN has created these sustainable development goals.

The United Nations concerns about the growing chronic environment situation and its ill-effects in society. Hence, it brings together the proposals and ideas in these regards so that other nations could also contribute to their achievement of goals. The united nations have got the attention and encouragement of various countries and some of the countries have achieved their development goals. The sustainable development goals are interrelated to each other and need to be attained together.

The basic principle of the sustainable goals is 'no one should be left behind'; it means that every individual should be equal and should attain equal opportunities of enjoying the activities of society without any discrimination. Hence, it has created goal no.8 decent work and economic growth. Social ripples are influenced by this goal and take measures to create an inclusive society. It focuses on generating awareness among the people about the need and positive effects of an inclusive society. Measures are taken by the social ripples and their team along with the different organizations and individuals in the communities so that they can create a lovable society that is loved by every person that coexists. People live with live, dignity, and confidence regardless of their caste, religion, race, disabilities, economic background, and geographic area. They also want disabled people should also feel included in society.

A sustainable and inclusive society also correlates with other development goals such as gender equality, rural development, women, and child development. All these goals are focused on empowering every individual of the society to raise its economic and social ability and live a dignified life forever. To cope up with each of the poverty eradication goals, the United Nations has taken measures to generate awareness about the need for education for economic growth. It gives employment opportunities and also eradicates inequality, accessibility of human settlements, and reduces illiteracy rates, and eradicates poverty.

Extending the definition of sustainable development, the United Nations is also focusing on environmental conditions. It defines sustainability as 'using natural resources by avoiding the risk of their depletion and ensuring that future generations will make effective use of natural resources and energy resources. Hence, we can say that sustainable development is all about maintaining the balance between the environmental, social, ecological, and environmental needs of human beings.

Some of the focus areas of the United Nations are as follows

• Green jobs, youth employment, and social inclusion

• Energy access, efficiency, and sustainability

• Food security and sustainable agriculture

• Water

• Sustainable cities

• Management of oceans, fisheries, and other marine resources

• Improved resilience and disaster preparedness

The social ripples, focus on attaining sustainable goals and contribute to creating a sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally stable society

Rural Development Approaches and Components

 

Rural areas are an important asset for development in our country. Most of the population in India happen to live in rural areas and their basic occupation is agriculture. Rural development is an important part of bringing sustainable development as rural development ensures the usage of maximum natural and renewable energy resources. The social ripples focus on rural development with a vast number of approaches. The main aim of rural development is to empower the rural population socially, economically, and ecologically so that they can become self-reliant. This approach was used by Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation. He used rural development as an intrinsic part of the national movement for independence and self-reliance. But sadly even after independence most of the population in rural areas is below the poverty line.

The process of rural development is improving the standard of living by raising their social and economic life of people by changing occupational structure, social organization, and settlement pattern. In the case of rural areas development can be brought by extending the improvements in irrigation techniques, improvements in techniques of cultivation, expansion of electricity, construction of school buildings, roads and provision of health and education facilities, etc. According to World Bank, poverty in rural areas is not only limited to access to basic needs that are food, clothing, and shelter but it is also about access to education, health services, and clean water.

Approaches to rural development

The process of rural development is all about finding ways to improve the social and economic well-being of people residing in rural areas. At the social ripples, their teams focus on generating awareness and taking measures so that individuals in rural areas should participate in the process of development. It is because the individual who is living in that particular rural area is going to understand the need and approach of development better than anyone else. Hence they promote individual participation approach towards rural development. Other rural development approaches are bottom-up approaches, participatory rural appraisal, rapid rural appraisal, community-driven development approach, growth center approach, etc.

Components of rural development

The main three components of rural development are

·         Agriculture

We are aware that the occupation of most of the individuals in rural areas is agriculture, and it is dependent on environmental conditions. Empowering the farmers by educating them with dynamic ways of agriculture is one of the components of rural development.

 

·         Ecological settings

It is all about generating awareness and educating people about using and conserving natural resources, for example, educating about soil wetness, solar exposure and wind exposure, biogas combustion, etc.

 

·         Technology

This component includes generating awareness about the significance of technology. Various new agricultural technologies are going to make their work manageable and are going to increase their yields.

 

·         Infrastructure and self-reliance

Infrastructure is an integral part of rural development. It includes facilities such as roads, transportations, communities, power supplies, electricity supplies, water supplies, etc. the people in rural areas, are blessed with great skills men and artisans. Using their art and craft can make them more self-reliant in every aspect.

 

·         Law and order

A distributive law and order can help individuals in managing their tasks effectively. It is one of the vital components of rural development.

 

·         Medical and healthcare

People in rural areas are facing poor health and sanitation due to poverty. Generating awareness and employment opportunities to people can help them to raise their livelihood healthily.

 

·         Education

Education is not only the fundamental right of every individual but also it is a need to bring a better society. Hence, this component of rural development is all about increasing access to education to individuals in rural development.

The social ripples work on these approaches and components to bring sustainable rural development.

The importance of Rural Development

 Rural development is the heart of attaining sustainable development goals. Most of the rural areas are covered with natural resources in India. Hence, the rural area is the soul of India as said by Mahatma Gandhi. Rural development is the process of improving the lives of people in rural areas by empowering their economic well-being and quality of life. The social ripples aim at bringing the development in rural areas with the help of natural resources they already have. They believe that the economic and social development of the country is seen successfully when it reflects the development of every individual in the remotest areas of the country. It is seen that the rural areas are isolated. The main objective of rural development is to improve the quality of life of people in isolated rural areas.

Another the objective behind the rural development that is inter-related to bringing up the social and economic level of the people in rural areas is 'conservation of the natural resources that sits in most of the rural areas.' In past, it was seen that most of the rural areas were prone to the exploitation of land-intensive natural resources such as agriculture and forestry. More than two-thirds of the population's livelihood is dependent only on agriculture and due to reasons such as environment changes they are still below the poverty line. It has led them to diminish their social and economic well-being. Hence, there is a need for change in the agricultural sector that is progressive, dynamic, and healthy. It primarily will help in rural development.

Rural areas are also merely affected by challenges such as poor sanitation and illiteracy. It has a very negative impact on their social and economic lives. Poverty and poor sanitation have affected most of the population's health and well-being. Hence, we can see that everything is loop locked if there is no rural development.  Poverty has also affected the population’s literacy levels. Children are unable to have access to the schools as they are forced to work to earn their family’s livelihoods.

The process of rural development will help the rural population to increase their quality of life by covering the economic, social, political, and cultural components. At social ripples, the team focuses on generating awareness and taking initiatives and measures that will bring rural development. It helps the people aware that coming up with progressive agricultural methods and empowering everyone in rural areas will help them gain strong market linkages. The strong market linkages plays important role in ruraldevelopment, as it brings employment opportunities for most of the people in the rural areas. It will help to improve the village as well as the nation’s economy.

Hence, sustainable rural development is important because

1. ·         It helps in improving public health, safety, and sanitation
2. ·         Education policy will help to reduce the illiteracy levels for future generations
3. ·    Helps in the conservation of natural resources and hence, future generations will not find it difficult to live their livelihoods.
4. ·         It helps in reducing poverty levels.
5. ·         Increase in employment opportunities
6. ·         Female empowerment and gender diversity
7. ·         Helps in infrastructure development to improve income through tourism
8. ·         Helps in creating a sustainable forest management

Social ripples focus on taking measures and initiatives to generate awareness about rural development. It also helps the population to increase their social and economic well-being.

Sustainable Economic Development - The Social Ripples

Living in a sustainable environment refers to living in a socially and economically developed environment. Creating a sustainable developed society refers to increment in the quality of life within the community using the skills of the population and ecological services that remain for a longer time. Various areas integrate to bring up the sustainable development in the society that includes sustainable ecological development, sustainable economic development, and sustainable social development. These three are the pillars of sustainable development. 

Every pillar is interrelated to each other. Sustainable economic development is the basis of sustainable development. It refers to economic growth that strives to meet the daily needs of humans maintaining natural resources and the environment. Various natural resources factors that are responsible for economic development are land, natural resources, labor, and capital (produced from natural resources and land). The social ripples strive to generate awareness and create measures towards economic development in such a way that the daily needs of humans are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their daily needs.

We can define sustainable economic development as a technology-based process that helps to raise the economic life of every individual. For example, it aims at moving the agriculture economy to an industrial one or the commercial economy to technological-based trade. It is all about creating development plans to improve the economic state of every individual of the society by implementing a series of successful economic strategies. Using the present environmental assets is the best way to promote economic growth and development as it will give employment opportunities to most of the population. One of the aims of sustainable economic development is to make individuals make self-sufficient and self-reliable.

Goals and objectives of sustainable economic development

Increase in national income

It is one of the main objectives of bringing sustainable economic development. It is because it contributes to improvement in the living of the individuals. It also aims at strengthening the structure of trade and industry that helps to improve the economic life of many individuals by creating employment opportunities.

Increment in the natural resources investments

It aims at bringing the investments in natural resources present in the country by supporting the public infrastructure nearby the state lands and also support in production and maintaining the natural resources and supporting the public services.

Capital support services

It refers to provide required economic support to the weak public capital.

Token exchange

This goal and objective aim at focusing on the development of trade. It includes the follow-up of trade exports and imports. It mainly aims at promoting trade between the developing countries and other countries to fulfill the basic needs of the population.

External debt management

Its aim is at finding ways to repay the external debts.

The indicators of sustainable economic development are the Gross National Product and the Gross Domestic Product. These two are the perfect definition of economic welfare.

Why do we rescue the women and children first?

 

It is A very nice question. It is the point of discussion and not debate. I would like to put in my idea behind it. Today, we are all talking about women empowerment and feminism. What does that mean? It means to respect and accept women and their existence.

 It means to give equal opportunities to them in the decision-making process. We can see the same words everywhere ‘Women are no less than men’ they can do good for themselves and their family. Why do we rescue the women and children first?

Children are young and innocent hence; they need assistance in rescuing from the situation. They cannot rescue themselves as they have no power and enough experience to come out of the situation. Hence, it is the elder ones who can help them rescue. It is an unwritten policy that a child cannot live without his mother. Hence, in case of rescue, it is important that women should be rescued along with the children. It is not that men cannot look after their children but when it comes to children’s well-being and looking-after, mothers are preferably chosen.

The entire rescuing situation has nothing to do with women's empowerment and feminism. If it was such thing that women have less power or immunity than men they wouldn’t have given opportunities to serve the nation at borders and everywhere in defense.

How does the empowerment of women affect development?

 

There is an increase in the trend of women empowerment all around us. The impact of the measures taken by the government is also seen. Women's empowerment is nothing but considering women into the decision-making process by educating her and promoting her skills to the fullest. I would like to share some of the areas that will help to understand the empowerment of women and its effect on development.

Before empowering a woman, you should first understand to accept and respect their existence in society. Once people will accept women and respect them, it will be easy for them to give them equal opportunity in the decision-making process.

Women's empowerment affects both the social and economic development of the county.

When a woman gets an education, she is responsible for the education of the whole family. She educates her children to be good citizens of the country and in turn, helps to contribute to the social and economic development of society. 

Women empowerment also opens a door for women to be financially independent. It creates job opportunities for women. It will help society to make full use of her skills and help women and their families to get developed.

Women, if given a job, will help the country economically as there will be an increase in tax payable candidates. Also, it will help women to have their own identity other than someone's wife, mother, or daughter in front of society. Also, there will be an increase in the quality workforce with which the companies will be benefitted.

Why does society make women feel required to have children?

 I am a woman and aware of all the social expectations that people have from a woman. Since from my childhood, or you can say from the time when I got to know about womanhood, I am hearing the old saying that 'a woman is incomplete without having children' or 'a woman becomes complete when she bears a child.' Since then, I was having the question, why? Today when this question has been raised, I would like to thank you. Also, I would share my views.

A woman is blessed with the reproductive system to bear the child during her childbearing days. But society has taken it in another way. The social norms are set for a woman, to bear a child so that she becomes complete and can take their dynasty forward.

 A child, that too a boy child is said to be the remark of their dynasty. I do not say that a woman should not give birth to a child. She should give birth to a child if she will’s to and is prepared to have it.

In many of the areas of society, a girl is forced to get married early instead of gainingan education. She is then forced to do house chores and also give birth to the child.

 The social norms had made women show proof of her fertility by reproducing a child against her wish.

Our society has trained a woman to think that a child will help her be complete and feel secured and live with dignity in society. It is one of the norms of the society that if a woman does not have children has no respect from society.

How can the Indian government ensure gender equality in India?

I believe you all might be aware of gender equality and how it is affecting the development of our country. The question raised here is about the Indian government's role in bringing up gender equality so, I thought to share something related to it.

Gender equality is one of the important aspects affecting the development of our nation. It is all about giving equal opportunities to the individual of every gender in society. The Indian government has passed many legislations and acts to generate awareness about gender equality. But still, there is a gender gap seen in society. Women and LGBT groups are underrepresented in society. People are not ready to accept the change in a male-dominated society. Hence, as a result, according to the global gender gap report, 2016 by the world economic forum, India stands 87^th in the gender gap index amongst 144 countries in the world. India has climbed from 105^th rank to 87^th since 2015.

The government of India has taken many measures concerning educating and empowering women of India to eliminate the gender gap. With this, it was seen that women were allotted a reservation to get a job and education. But at the workplace women are finding problems such as they are underrepresented or over mentored. They have refrained from decision making for their company. It shows that the government is doing everything to eliminate the gender gap in every area of society but, it is the responsibility of an individual to bring change in society by accepting women as their fellow employees.

It is about women's empowerment. The government should also create awareness related to the transgender and LGBT groups, at last, they are also an integral part of society. A fair opportunity should also be given to these communities so that they can live with dignity and confidence in society. Creating equal opportunities for every gender will give rise to a better society.

How are corporations supporting sustainable development goals (SDGs)?

 Without any support, we cannot achieve our goals. UN's sustainable development goals are focusing on developing society for a better future. The goals of the UN  are eradicating the problems universally. Hence, it needs partnership and support from the governments and corporations of all the nations.

UNsustainable goals are interrelated to each other. The 20 major corporations are supporting the United Nations to promote their sustainable goals in various areas. Most of the global projects are accomplished by the corporations for the UN. Major corporations such as CJ logistics have helped the UN the most.

Following are the ways corporations are supporting sustainable development goals.

·         Giving people employment opportunities

It helps the individual to raise his financial status and contribute to the nation’s development.

·         Generating awareness about clean environment

Some of the corporations are carrying out the print messages campaigns to generate awareness about the importance and effect of environmental cleanliness.

·         Taking developmental initiatives towards change

The corporations that are members of UN sustainable development goals are taking initiatives personally to bring change. For example, some of the corporations are replacing disposable and plastics to renewable and eco-friendly materials.

·         The collaboration of the UN with the energy forest business is an effective measure to drive the attention and awareness of fine dust and deforestation issues.

I have mentioned some of the most evident contributions of the large scale corporations that are national and international. Many such corporations are supporting the UN to promote their sustainable development goals.

Why SDG 17 is the Most Important UN SDG?

 

We all are nearly aware of the UN sustainable goals. UN is trying to complete all the targeted goals by 2030. Its sustainable goals target to come up with a developed and sustainable society. Its 17 sustainable goals include eradication of hunger, poverty, social and gender discrimination, women and child development, etc.

All these UN sustainable goals are interrelated to each other. Achieving these inter-related goals require fundraising and partnerships at a higher level. It is the 17th goal of the UN to bring financial development, connecting people through information technology networks and international trade flows. It will help the governments of various countries to clear their debts.

To bring sustainable development in society there should be an understanding between the governments, private sectors, and civil society. We can see many of the countries are still underdeveloped or still developing and lack in their financial status. Most of the time, the reason is their geographical areas and natural calamities they are not able to raise their financial status. They need official development assistance to raise funds for their country. The aim of SGD 17 is to provide official assistance by encouraging growth and trade for the country with the help of collaboration with other governments. 

Half of the population in various nations are connected through networking. It leads to many opportunities for the people, for sharing innovative ideas of business, and sometimes opportunities encourage the trade flows. UN comes up with the policies that promote the idea of investments for the underdeveloped or developing nations. It will automatically help them to clear their debts and raise their financial conditions. 

Hence, it is one of the most important sustainable development goals of the UN.