Journal of Global Resources

Volume 2
January 2016
Page 36-42
ISSN: 2395-3160 (Print), 2455-2445 (Online)

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ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT: PUBLIC AWARENESS AND PERCEPTION OF
RESIDENTS OF SIKAR DISTRICT
M. M. Sheikh1 and V. K. Verma2
Associate Professor, Geography
2
Associate Professor, Political Science
Government Lohia College, Churu (Rajasthan), India
Email: mmskh@rediffmail.com
1

Abstract: There is a close relationship between environment and development. They are not
only related with each other, but also affect each other. Ecological imbalance has become amajor issue of concern today. An attempt has been made in this article to analyze various
aspects related with the population, environment and developmental problems of Sikar districtof Rajasthan. Demographic data provide basic information about population dynamics of thestudy area. The population and environment are interlinked. As the population increases theneeds for its survival also increases. These continuous growing requirements of population are
directly or indirectly fulfilled by the surrounding ecosystem. As a result growing population has
direct impact on our environment, but developmental activities are indispensable for meetingthe day by day growing needs of mankind. Therefore, all development processes has to takeup with the safety, protection and conservation of natural as well human resources for
substance of an ecosystem. To maintain the quality of life optimum management of populationis also essential.
Keywords: Environment, Development, Biodiversity Issues and People’s Perception.
Introduction
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992,
and the International Conference on Population and Development, held in Cairo in 1994, aconsensus was reached that population, environment and development were inextricably
linked. It was also recognized that bringing about a sustainable relationship between humannumbers, resources and development required activities at the local, national, regional andglobal levels. The centre of this consensus was the realization of the global nature of mostsalient environmental issues. The key environmental challenges that the country faces relate
to the nexus of environmental degradation with poverty in its many dimensions, and economic
growth. These challenges are intrinsically connected with the state of environmental
resources, such as land, water, air, and their flora and fauna. It is increasingly evident thatpoor environmental quality has adversely affected human health. This issue has also been
greatly realized by every segment of population. We cannot ignore the population from theenvironment and the process of development as these two are very intimately related withhuman civilization. Man lives within the environment and get the better quality of life from theprocess of development. Environmental degradation has a serious impediment to economic
development and the eradication of poverty in the developing world. Mankind’s relationshipwith the environment has passed through several stages, commencing with primitive time inwhich human beings lived in a stage of symbiosis with nature, followed by a period of growing
mastery over nature up to the industrial age and culminating into material intensive growth
patterns of the present century.
In India, population, environment and development issues remain, as chronic problem
with the process of development could not pace with the growth of population. India, fordecades has been facing the adverse consequences of gradual degradation of environment in
the form of drought, flood, rainfall, ill health and pollution etc. Slow development processes
and rapid growth of population pressurized the huge population to exploit the available
resource more that resulted in to the environmental degradation. It is found predominant inurban areas because of the rapid growth of urban population due to migration from rural tourban areas and because of the process of industrialization. Thus, the environmental
degradation in India can be attributed to the process of rapid population growth. Here one
attempt has made to see the relationship among population, environment and development inIndia. Here the attempt has been made to see the complex relationship of different
demographic and developmental indicators viz. population growth, deforestation, urbanization,industrialization, health, land use pattern and globalization with the environment in Indian
context.
Study Area
For the present study, Sikar district was selected as the study area which is located in thenorth eastern Rajasthan between 270 21’ to 280 12’ North Latitudes and 740 44’ to 750 25’ East

36

Longitudes. It is bounded by Churu and Jhunjhunu districts in the north, by Jaipur district in theeast, by Nagaur and Jaipur districts in the south and in the west by Churu and Nagaur districtsof Rajasthan. Sikar is situated midway between Bikaner and Jaipur on national highway
number 11. Sikar is located in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. There is still no broad
gauge railway track in the district. It is connected through meter gauge to Delhi, Jaipur,
Rewari, Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar, Churu, and Jhunjhunu. However the district is wellconnected by roads.
Objectives
The study was conducted by undertaking following main objectives:
 To make an assessment of environmental degradation and its ecological impacts in
Sikar district.
 To highlight the causes of environment degradation due to increasing population in the
district and also to suggest various measures to control over them.
 To examine the impacts of environmental pollution on the various aspects of life, andsocial impact.
Methodology
In order to make the study comprehensive and more analytical, both empirical and statisticalmethodologies have been applied for different aspects of the study. For this 32 sampled
villages i. e. four villages in each development block (Panchayat Samiti) were studied. The
selection of villages was based on stratified random sampling. At the micro level the study was
conducted with the help of a questionnaire through personal interview method with theresidents of villages and farmers. There were 50 household interviewed from each village.
Thus, a total of 1600 respondents were interviewed from 32 villages.
Figure 1: Maps showing the Location of the Study Area Figure No. 01
Study Area

INDIA

RAJASTHAN

SIKAR DISTRICT

Demographic Profile
According to the census 2011 Sikar district has a population of 26,77,333 of which male andfemale were 13,74,990 and 13,02,343, respectively. In addition to this, 79.35 percent
population live in the rural areas, while 20.65 percent reside in urban areas of the district. The
percentage of scheduled caste and scheduled tribes population are 14.85 and 2.73
respectively. The sex ratio in the district (i.e. 947) is significantly higher than the state sex
ratio (i.e. 928).The literacy rate in the district is 71.9 percent which is higher than the state
average (66.1 percent) and it ranks 4th among the other districts of the state. Gender gap of
the literacy rate is 26.9 percent in the district. The scheduled caste and scheduled tribe
population in the district is 15.6 percent and 2.8 percent respectively whereas the state
percent of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe population is 17.8 and 13.5, respectively. The
economy of the district is mainly dependent on agriculture as 58.5 percent workers in the
district are either cultivators or agricultural labourers. However, the district percentage of such
workers is lower than the state average of 62.1 percent. Work participation rate (WPR) of the
district has recorded 37.6 percent and gender gap in WPR is 21.0 percent points. In the district
among the workers the percentage of cultivators, agricultural labourers, workers in household

37

industry and other workers (category of workers) are 49.8, 8.7, 2.3 and 39.2 percents,
respectively.
Increasing Population
As we all know that population is increasing day by day very fast, due to which a number ofproblems are increasing such as environmental pollution, unemployment, poverty, fast
consumption of natural resources, migration, urbanization, slums and so on. The following
table shows that 77.19 percent people are positive in response of regarding increasing of
population. About 26.50 persons reported that they don’t know whether population isincreasing or not. The following table shows the response of people about increasing
population.
Table 1: Population Increasing
Category

Response
Number
1176
424
1600

Yes
No
Total
Source: Field Survey

Percent
73.50
26.50
100

Educational Profile
The following table illustrates the education profile of the respondents in the 32 study area
villages. The following table shows that there are 18.13 percent comes under illiterate and33.81 come under formally literate category. The graduates and post graduate are only 4.69
percent and 1.31 percent respectively.
Table 2: Respondent’s Educational Level
Educational background
Illiterate
Literate
Primary
Middle school
SecondarySr. Secondary
Graduate
Post Graduate
Total
Source: Field Survey

Number
290
541
234
176
165
98
75
21
1600

Percentage
18.13
33.81
14.62
11.00
10.31
6.13
4.69
1.31
100

Inter-linkages between Environment and Population
It is now well accepted that population, poverty, the economy and environment areinterconnected. Poverty and general lack of access to capital, resources and technology
contribute to deforestation. The population pressures can leads to resource degradation andpoverty. There is a growing emphasis that economic policies also affect poverty andenvironment, be it direct or indirect, bearing on the availability as well as utilization of natural
resources. The growing population has forced poor villagers to deforest and cultivate thedeforested land for agricultural purposes and to meet their livelihood needs. The poor are both
agents and victims of deforestation. Undoubtedly, clearing of forests for agricultural purposes
will increase income but this is not without any other side effects. The continuing need forfamily labour supports high fertility and rapid population growth. Continued deforestation will
have grave consequences for the health of both humans and ecosystems. The consequencesof unrelenting population growth on natural resources depletion and environmental
degradation are not easily dealt with. The lack of knowledge is a problem. Thus, there is aneed to promote public awareness of the linkages between population, poverty andenvironment. Environmentalists and economists increasingly agree that efforts to protect theenvironment and to achieve better living standards can be closely linked and are mutually
reinforcing. Slowing the increase in population, especially in the face of rising per capita
demand for natural resources, can take pressure off the environment and buy time to improveliving standards on a sustainable basis (Green, C.P., 1992). The following table shows the link
between population and environment. About 62.38 percent respondents reported thatenvironment and population are interlinked. If the population will increase the environment willaffect in negative way. About 37.62 percent persons reported that there is no any link between
environment and population. The following table shows the details of respondents.
Table 3: Environment and Population Interlinked
Category
Yes
No
Total
Source: Field Survey

Response
Number
998
602
1600

38

Percent
62.38
37.62
100

Poverty and Environment
During the recent decade, poverty and environmental degradation have been increasingly
linked. The poor have not only suffered disproportionately from environmental damage, buthave they become major cause of ecological stress. Pushed into fragile lands due topopulation growth and inequitable income distribution patterns many of the poor have overexploited local resource base. Short-term strategies such as abbreviated fallow periods,
depletion of topsoil, and deforestation permit survival in the present but place enormous
burdens upon future generation. In this context, there is a clear danger of India's continuing toshow a pattern of divergent development, with parts of the country making progress in many
fronts, and other parts stagnating. The following table shows that 67.25 percent respondents
accept that poverty and environment are interlinked and both are result of over population. The
details are given in the following table.
Table 4: Poverty and Environment
Category
Yes
No
Total
Source: Field Survey

Response
Number
1076
524
1600

Percent
67.25
32.75
100

Impact on Land
The table 4 shows the regularity of forest committee members meeting. Only 22.19 percent
villagers of the study area reported that regular meeting of forest committee is held. About
68.06 percent people of reported that forest committee meeting is not held regularly. Whereas
9.75 percent villagers have not given any response or said don’t know about the forest
committee meeting.
Table 5: Impact on Land
Category
Yes
No
No Response
Total
Source: Field Survey

Response
Number
355
1089
156
1600

Percent
22.19
68.06
09.75
100.0

Impact on Water Resources
The water resources, indiscriminate use and mismanagement have caused resource
degradation to the extent that the quality and quantity of available water has been affected.
Shortage of water is experienced during winter months (November to March) and when we
expect good quality water. The fast growing population has pressurized the food production
base and to satisfy their need the people have misused the water resources. The region,
though having sufficient water in aggregate, cannot boast of adequate quantities of water for
its people at all places and during all the seasons. Population growth, caused water, land andenvironmental degradation and in many cases irreversible damage to water resources. The
social sanctions and belief system maintained a balance between resource potential and theirutilization for a long time, but with the increase in population and indiscriminate use of water
resources, imbalance has been created. The important issue is to promote conservation andsustainable use of resources which allow long-term economic growth. The following tableshows the increasing population and its impact on water. About 70.75 percent respondents
reported that water resources are seriously affected by increasing population. Due toincreasing population the demand of water is increasing in agricultural and domestic purposes.
Only 18 percent respondents said that there is no any negative impact on water due toincreasing population. Whereas 11.25 percent persons have not given any response or they
don’t know about the impact on water due to increasing population.
Table 6: Impact on Water
Category
Yes
No
No Response
Total
Source: Field Survey

Response
Number
1132
288
180
1600

Percent
70.75
18.0
11.25
100

Rain Water Harvesting
Harvesting of roof water is an age-old practice to obtain safe drinking water, which is being
revived and emphasized now. In ancient times, houses in western Rajasthan were constructedwith stone and lime and roof water was diverted to tankas. Harvesting of roof water is being
neglected because of pipe-borne water supplies even in rural areas, which is essentially based39

on groundwater withdrawal locally or in the vicinity. Roof water harvesting is now becoming theorder of the day in towns as well as in rural areas due to the alarming rate of groundwater
depletion. If harvesting of roof water is revived on a large scale, it will alleviate the scarcity ofdrinking water and also reduce the rapid depletion of groundwater. Roof water harvesting forthe recharging of groundwater can also be recommended for areas having suitable aquifers.
This approach requires harvesting and channelizing roof water to either existing wells, tube
wells, bore wells or specially designed wells. It is most suitable for urban housing complexes
or institutional buildings located in drought-prone arid and semi-arid regions. The following
table shows that 78.44 percent people are aware about importance of rain water harvesting.
Most of them are having rain water harvesting structure either in house or field. Whereas
12.19 percent respondents reported that rain water harvesting system is not common in the
study area in recent years. Only 9.37 percent reported that they don’t know about theharvesting system is regular or irregular.
Table 7: Rainwater Harvesting
Category

Response

Yes
No
No Response
Total
Source: Field Survey

Number
1255
195
150
1600

Percent
78.44
12.19
9.37
100

Forest Conservation
Rural development through participatory forestry is a dynamic process for promoting the
economic, social and environmental growth, increased agricultural productivity, and enhancing
the prospects of basic needs and services in rural areas. Forestry promises a vast potential toachieve the indigenous rural development through the integrated management of natural
resources. The achievement of the aims of rural development to a large extent depends upon
the availability and use patterns of natural resources including land, forests, soils, water andtrees etc. The following table shows the progress of forest conservation work in the study area.
About 72.25 percent respondents reported that forest conservation work has been increasing
for last ten years. The increasing population effect on forest is not too much. Whereas 15.94
percent respondents emphasis that there is not progress in forest conservation work. Whereas
11.81 percent reported that they are not able to say anything on this issue.
Table 8: Forest Conversation
Category

Response

Yes
No
No Response
Total
Source: Field Survey

Number
1156
255
189

Percent
72.25
15.94
11.81

1600

100

Impacts of Population and Development on the Natural Environment
The following table shows that about 67.32 percent people are very well aware about negative
impact of population on environment and development. They agreed that high growth of
population will affect the environment in negative way. They will require more resources and it
will create more pollution. About 23.56 percent villagers are not aware regarding the impactsof population growth and development on the environment. About 9.12 percent respondents
did not have given any response.
Table 9: Impact of Population on Environment and Development
Category

Response
Number1077

Percent
67.32

No
No Response

377
146

23.56
9.12

Total
Source: Field Survey

1600

100

Yes

Declining Per Capita availability of Land under Forest Agriculture
The population growth has resulted in a downward trend in per capita availability of forest andagricultural land. Per capita availability of forests in India is much lower than the world
average. The growth of population is expected to be faster than hoped for improvements inforest cover as well as quality. Over the last ten years, despite governmental initiatives of joint
forest management, tree grower's co-operative movements and other efforts tangible results
are still to be observed, and forest depletion and degradation is still increasing. Similarly, the40

per capita availability of agricultural land in rural areas has decline consistently. About 56
percent people said that per capita forest land and agricultural land is decreasing due toincreasing population.
Habitat Destruction and Loss of Biodiversity
Protection of earth's biological diversity is an important goal in its own right. Biodiversity has
direct consumptive value in food, agriculture, medicine, industry etc. It also has the aesthetic
and recreational value. The greatest threat to biodiversity is not destruction of plants andanimals, but rather the destruction of their habitat. India is one of the 12 mega-biodiversity
countries of the world. From about 70 percent of the total geographical area surveyed so far
46,000 plant species and 81,000 animal species representing about 7 percent of the world's
flora and 6.5 percent of the world's fauna have been described. Population growth leads toexpanding human settlements and increasing demand for food, fuel and building materials.
Modernization of agriculture also threatens potentially valuable local crops. Biodiversity theworld over is in peril because the habitats are threatened due to such development programs
as creation of reservoirs, mining, forest clearing, lying of communication and transport
networks etc. It is estimated that in the worldwide perspective slightly over 1000 animal
species and sub-species are threatened with the extinction rate of one per year, while 20,000
flowering plants are thought to be at risk (Compendium of Environment Statistics, 2000). The
people of the study area have the same thought. They emphasize that, due to over population
our habitat is disturbing very fast and loss of biodiversity is also very high. About 56.90 percent
respondents agreed that, loss of biodiversity is increasing day by day due to high pressure of
population.
Changing Consumption Patterns
The economic and industrial development is inevitably accompanied by changing patterns ofconsumption. The number of registered motor vehicles in India provides one useful indicator of
expanding consumption and economic growth. The increasing vehicles in country, producing
more air pollution, fuel consumption, traffic jams and demands for road construction-often at
the cost of agricultural land. The population of India in 2000 was just over 1 billion, and there
were about 10 motor vehicles for every 1000 people, or a total of roughly 10 million motor
vehicles in the country. In 2020, the population of India will be about 1.3 billion, and there will
be about 44 motor vehicles for every 1000 people, making a total of 57 million vehicles(Energy Information Administration, 2001). An increase in vehicular pollution is associated witha number of environmental problems like air pollution and global warming. In most urban
areas, air pollution has worsened due to traffic congestion, poor housing, poor sanitation anddrainage and garbage accumulation. The environmental effects of fuels like oil and petroleum
products are of growing concern owing to increasing consumption levels. In study area thenumbers of all types of vehicles are increasing in rural and urban areas. This is also due tosocial symbol of having a vehicle. The people of study area reported that due to development
environmental problems are also increasing. The situation is worst in urban area incomparison to rural areas. About 68.77 percent respondents agreed on this issue.
Rising Demand for Energy
The environmental effects due to increasing consumption levels of fuels are of growing
concern to various researchers. About 77.59 percent respondents agreed on this issue. The
combustion of fuels in industries has been a major source of pollution. Coal production throughopen cast mining; its supply to and consumption in power stations and industrial boilers leads
to particulate and gaseous pollution, which can cause pneumoconiosis, bronchitis andrespiratory diseases. The bulk of commercial energy comes from the burning of fossil fuels viz.
coal and lignite in solid form, petroleum in liquid form and gas in gaseous form. In addition toemission of greenhouse gases, the burning of fossil fuels has led to several ecologicalproblems and associated with health problems like cancer risk, respiratory diseases and other
health problems. Burning of traditional fuel adds a large amount of carbon-dioxide into
atmosphere and increases air pollution. The increasing population numbers and growing
affluence have already resulted in rapid growth of energy production and consumption, andthis trend can only be expected to accelerate in the future. A considerable amount of air
pollution results from burning of fossil fuels. Moreover the resources for fossil fuels are also
limited thus exploration of alternate energy resources would provide the way out.
Sources of Fuel Wood
The main source of fuel wood reported as 80.13 percent from their own field. While 9.13
percent reported that they collect fuel wood from other person field in the absence of owner.
Some time it creates problems for themselves. About 7.12 percent said that they purchase fuelfrom gram panchayat (local governing body), other villagers etc.
Use of Fertilizers in Agriculture
The use of chemical fertilizers is high in comparison of bio fertilizer in the study area. About
49.25 persons reported that they are using chemical fertilizer, while 27.19 persons are using41

bio fertilizers. There are 18.12 persons reported that they are using both bio and chemicalfertilizers.
Table 10: Use of Fertilizers
Category

Response
Number
788
435
290
87
1600

Chemical Fertilizer
Bio Fertilizer
Mix (Bio & Chemical)
Other
Total
Source: Field Survey

Percent
49.25
27.19
18.12
5.44
100

Conclusion
The parallel consequences of increasing population are increasing population density,
increasing population below poverty line and human pressure on available natural resources.
Altogether contributes to environmental degradation through over exploitation of natural
resources. The present study of Sikar district reveals that, rapid population growth in the
district continues to be a matter of concern for the country as it has manifold effects, mostimportant being land degradation and soil erosion, deforestation and declining per capita landavailability, forest and water resources. Growing population has direct impact on ourenvironment, but developmental activities are indispensable for meeting the day by day
growing needs of mankind. From the various effects of human beings on environmental
degradation, it appears that if human beings want to exist on earth, there is now high time togive top priority to protect natural resources and environment. In order to increase green coverand to preserve the existing forests, afforestation and social forestry programs should be
implemented at the local level. There is a need for preventive and curative measures to control
water pollution due to chemical fertilizers, pesticides and other wastes.
Moreover, it is also must to understand that, the act of the environmental protection is
not a responsibility of government alone, but the local communities and political leaders tooshould be also be encouraged in making dedicated efforts to solve the environmental
problems. Special efforts should be made by educating them about the adverse effects of highpopulation growth through specially designed Informational, Education and Communication(IEC) activities. More emphasis should be laid on compulsory environmental education at theschool level in order to make people aware of the environment protection. There is a need of aholistic understanding across the disciplines, which is needed in order to accommodate thestill evolving concept of sustainability. A key ally in this endeavor is environmental education.
Professionals should be engaged in environmental education to work together with otherdisciplines of humanities and social sciences.
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