Management of Natural Resources

Management of Natural Resources

Why do we seek to build dams?

1. Large dams can ensure storage of adequate water which can be used for irrigation. Canal systems leading from dams can transfers water to great distances eg. Indira Gandhi Canal has brought greenary to large areas of Rajasthan.

2. Stored water can be used for generating electricity.

3. Dams also control floods.

What are the reasons for opposition to construction oflarge dams like Tehri Dam on river Ganga?

Large dams Construction causes three problems:

Social Problems: Large numberof peasents and tribals are displaced without adequate compensation or rehabilitation.

Economic Problem: Huge amounts of public money is used in constructing dams without yhe generation of proportionate benefits.

Encironmental Problems: Dam construction leads to deforestation and loss of biological diversity.

What is Narmada Bacho Andolon?

It is a protest against raising ythe height of Sardar Sarover dam on river Narmada.

What is water shed management?

• Watershed management amphasises soil and water conservation to increase biomass production.
• Watershed management increases income of watershed community
• It also prevents droughts and floods.
• It increase the life of the dewnstream dam and reserviors.

What are the ancient or traditional systems of water harvesting?

• Digging small pits and lakes.
• put in place simple watershed systems.
• Building small earthen dams
• Construting dykes
• sand and limestone reservoir
• Setting up rooftop water collecting units

Name some of the ancient or traditional water harvesting structure/systems still in use.

• Khadins and Nadis in Rajasthan
• tals in Maharashtra
• Bundhis in M.P.and U.P.
• ahars in Bihar
• Kulhs in H.P.
• Eris in T.N.
• Surangams in Kerala
• Kattas in Karnataka

Describe the structure of water harvesting structure in largely terrain?

• In a largely level terrain water harvestinh structures are mainly crescent shaped earthen embankments or low, straight concrete and rubble checked dams built across seasonal flooded gullies.
• Monsoon rains fill ponds behind the structures.
• Only large structures holds water throughout the year while most dry up after monsoon
• The main purpose of water harvesting structures is not to hold the surface water but to recharge the ground water.

Write significance of water stored in ground.

• It does not evaporate, but recharges wells and provides moisture for vegetation over a wide area.
• It does not provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes like stagnant water bodies.
• Ground water is not contaminated by human and animal waste.

Why do we need to use coal and petroleum (Fossil Fuels) judiciously?

• Coal and petroleum are non- renewable resources. These were formed from degradation of biomass millions of years ago and will be exhausted in future.
• When coal and petroleum are burnt, they release SO2, CO2 oxides of N2. When combustion takes place in insufficient oxygen, CO is formed along with N2O and SO2 which are all poisonous high concentration and pollute our environment.
• CO2 formed by complete combustion of fossil fuel is a green house gas and causes global warming

What are two advantages of giving people control over resources?

1. Controls mismanagement of resources

2. Reduces over- exploitation of these resources.

How is Ganga river getting polluted? Which project has bean laiddown by Government to clean Ganga?

Causes of Pollution

1. Largely untreated garbage and sewage is dumped into Ganga every day from state like U.P. Bihar andWest Bengal.
2. Huamn activities like bathing, washing ofclothes, immersion of ashes or unburnt corpses pollute water.
3. Chemical effluents from industries also pollute Ganga and these toxic chemicals kill fish and other aquatic organisms in the river

A multicroreproject-- Ganga action plan was imlemented in 1985 to clean Ganga water

What changes can you make in your habits to become more environment friendly?

1.Reduce--

1. Save water by repairing the leaked taps.
2. Switch off unnecessary lights and fans
3. Don't waste food

2.Say no to plastic bags, disposable plastic cups

3.Reuse the thing again and again eg. using jam bottles to store some other material

4. Growing plants at your home and in surroundings

5.Stop using products like fur. Ivory from wild life.

Draw diagram of traditional water harvesting system --Khadin System

Refer to Fig16.3 Page No. 276 of NCERT Book

Management of Natural Resources

What is Ganga Action Plan and when was it implemented?

It is a massive multi-crore project implemented in 1985.It is to clean the excess pollution from the river Ganga.

Write the causes of pollution in the river Ganga.

1. Untreated sewagesuch as garbage and excreta are dumped into the Ganga.
2. Pollution is also caused by other human activities like bathing, washing and immersion of ashes or unburnt pieces of dead bodies.
3. Industries also contribute in Gang's pollution by adding chemical effluents and make thewater toxic, killing aquatic organisms.

How can you detect the presence of pollutants in river?

1. Presence of Coliform bacteria. It indicates contamination by disease causing microorganisms.
2. Ph of water can be detected by using universal indicator or litmus paper.

What is the essential mantra for reduction in pollution in the environment?

Three R's--reduce,recycle and reuse. Discuss

What is sustainable development?

It is not only meets the immediate needs of human society but also leaves sufficient resources for future generations.

Why should we conserve forest?

1. Forest bring rainfall and screen us from wind and sun.

2.Forest preserve wild life and provide suitable habitat for multiplication of wild animals and plants.

3. Forest by affecting the rainfall, wind velocity, temperature and CO2 concentration influences ecoclimate of atmosphere.

4. Forest prevent soil erosion which otherwise will result in the swelling of rivers and flooding of low lying areas.

5. Forest purify our air through photosynthesis.

6. Forest serve as beautiful place for recreation and tourism.

7. Forest provides us many valuable products like wood, fuel, pulp, paper, gum, resin, oil, honey, medicines, drugs, spices, etc.

What is wild life? Why should we conserve it?

1.The term wild life covers any or all non cultivated plants and non domesticated animals in natural surroundings.

2.Wild life has links in the food chain and if any of links is disturbed the balance in nature is disturbed.

3.Wild life also helps in biological control eg. Birds like hawks and snakes eat rats which otherwise will damage our crops.

4.Wild life helps in maintaining that keeps the soil fertile.

5. Trees and vegetation purify air by giving out O2.

6. Trees and vegetation prevent soil erosion by wind and water.

7.Wild species of plants and animals are destroyed by man to satisfy his demands of food , Fashion and sports eg leopard is killed for skin which is warm and decorative, antelops for their horns and many economically useful plants yielding medicines etc. As a result many species have become extinct while others are at the verge of extinction. Thus man needs to preserve this treasure of nature.

Q Steps for conservation of forests

1. A master plan is to be prepared for massive a forestation project which should include growing appropriate kinds of trees in plains as well hills.
2. Forests should be prevented from forests fires.
3. Cutting and uprooting of ligneous species should be punishable by law. Grazing of animals should be allowed in a controlled manner.
4. As there is great pressure on forests for fuel, firewood farming should be done on degraded land with proper planting techniques.
5. Public should be made aware on subjects like tree felling, tree planting, land reclamation, forest planning, proper use of forest products etc through programmes on radio, television.

Steps for Conservation of wild life

1. Hunting and trading of wild life should be punishable by law particularly endangered species.
2. National parks and sanctuaries should be set up to provide natural habitat for wild life.
3. Forest should be conserved.
4. More attention should be given to conserve endangered species of plants or animals to prevent their extinction.
5. The Government Department should conduct periodic surveys of National Parks/ Bioreserves/Sanctuaries to have knowledge of all population species of wild animals and birds.
6. Some of the international organizations which help in conservation of wild life are IUCN, WWF, and FAO etc.

Why forests are called biodiversity hot spots?

Forests are rich in biodiversity. There are many endemic species of plants and animals found in forest. Since forests are undergoing rapid habitat loss, there is danger of many species becoming extinct. Thus forests are priority areas for conservation so these are called hot spots.

What are the causes of damage to forests?

1. Local people damage forests to fulfill their daily needs.
2. Deforestation caused by industrial needs.
3. Deforestation caused by development projects like building roads dams.
4. By tourists or in making arrangements for tourists.
5. Forest Fire is also one of the causes of damage to forests.

Why biodiversity is important?

1.It is important for stability of an ecosystem.

2. It is important for the well being and healthy functioning of an ecosystem.

Enlist the stakeholders who should be considered, while we think of conservation of forest

The stakeholders are

1. The people who live in and around forests and depends on forest products.
2. The forest department of Goverment responsible for managing the forest and control the resources and revenues form forest.
3. The industrialist, who use forest produce as raw materials.
4. The wild life and nature enthusiasts who are involved in wild life and nature conservation.

What do the local people need from the forest?

1. Use bamboo to make huts.
2. Use basket for collecting and storing food materials.
3. Gather fruits, nuts, and medicines from forest.
4. Use wood to make implements for agriculture, fishing and hunting.
5. Large quantities of firewood
6. Do hunting and fishing.

Discuss how the forests have been damaged/ affected after they had been taken over by the Forest Department of our Goverment.

1. Local needs and knowledge were ignored in the management practices.
2. Large areas were cleared and converted to monoculture of pine, teak or eukalyptus.
3. This leads to destruction of biodiversity in the area.
4. Local people were not able to fulfilltheir needs.
5. But these plantations are the important source of revenue for the Forest Department

Does prejudice against traditionl use of Forest areas have any basis? Justify your answer.

1. The Great Himalayan National Park has alpine meadows. The nomadic shepherds used to take their flock of sheep in this area from the village every summer.
2. When the National park was established and the area was taken over by the Government. The practice of grazing by sheep was probhited.
3. Now it is seen that without grazing the grasses first grow very tall and fall over the others and prevent the fresh growth of grasses. Grazing allows the fresh growth of grasses.

Quote three instances where human intervention saved the forests from destruction

1. Bishnoi Community in Rajasthan take forest and wild life conservation as a religious tenet.King of Rajasthan ordered to get wood for their palace.Workers went to Khejrali village near Jodhpur in Rajasthan to get the wood of Khejri trees. It was opposed by Bishnoi community. Amrita Devi Bishnoi sacrificed her life along with 363 others in 1731 for protection of Khejri trees. Government is giving Amrita Devi Bishnoi National award for wild Life Conservation.
2. 'The Chipko Andolan'(Hug the trees Movement) In 1970's a contractor was given permission by the Forest Department to cut trees in a given area of the forest near to Reni Village Garwal. When the contractor reached the area, menfolks of the local community were not present. Without any fear the women of the village went to the forest and hugged the tree trunks which prevented the contractors men from felling the trees.
3. 1.Sal Forest in South- West districts of wesr Bengal were degraded. It was recognised by West Bengal Forest Department. They tried to revive the forest but failed. As they used traditional methods and policies and not involving local people.The Forest Department Started to involve the villagers in managment practices.

2. A.K.Banerjee. A forest officer involved the villagers in reviving the Sal forests in Arabari Forest range of Midnapur district. He involved local villagers to protect 1,272 hectares of badly degraded Sal Forests. Employment was given in both Silviculture and Harvesting operations. They were allowed to take 25% of the final harvest, fuel wood and fodder collection on payment of a nomianl fee. Sal Forests recovered remarkably by 1983 and the Forest were valued at Rs 12.5 Crores

CONSUMER RIGHTS

WELL INFORMED CONSUMERS….
When we as consumers become conscious of our rights, while purchasing goods& services, we will be able to discriminate and make informed choices.
Q. Describe some duties which as a consumer we should observe.
If customers want their rights they should also observe duties also.
After a purchase we must insist on cash memo.
While purchasing goods we must be carefull about the quality of goods as well the guarantee of products ans services.
We should buy certified goods—ISI, AGMARK etc.
Consumers should form Consumer Awareness Organisations in their localities to help & aware others.
Consumers must know their rights & must exercise them too.
ISI AND AGMARKThese are logos and certifications which help consumers get assured of quality while purchasing goods & services.
--The organizations that monitor and issue these certificates allow producers to use their logos provided they follow certain quality standards.
--It is not compulsory for all producers to follow standards. However the products that affect health and safety of consumers or the products of mass consumption, it is mandatory on the part of producers to get certified by these organizations.
(LPG Cylinders, food colours and additives, cement, packaged drinking water etc.)
Q. After 20 years of the enactment of COPRA, consumer awareness in India is spreading but slowly. Discuss.The consumer redressal process is becoming cumbersome,expensive and time consuming because
1.Many a times consumers are required to engage lawyers.
2.These cases require time for filing and attending the court proceedings etc.
3.In most purchases cash memos are not issued hence evidence is not easy to gather.& most purchases in the market are small retail sales.
4.The existing laws are also not very clear on the issue of compensation to consumers injured by defective products.

CONSUMER RIGHTS
Consumer—When we pay a price for a commodity or service & use it ,we become consumer.
We participate in the market both as producer and consumers
Q. Why do we need rules and regulations in the market?
--Rules and regulations are required in the market for protecting the environment .
--As in the informal sector moneylenders use various technique to bind the borrower, similarly many people who work in the unorganized sector have to work at low wages and have to accept conditions which are not good for their health. To prevent such exploitation we need rules & regulations.
--These are required for the protection of the consumers in the market place.
--Markets do not work in a fair manner when producers are few and powerful where as consumers purchase in small amounts and are scattered.
--Companies with huge wealth , power and reach can manipulate the markets in various ways—as false information through catchy advertisements, discounts, gift offers.
The above said conditions require rules and regulations.
EXPLOITATION IN THE MARKET PLACE/COMMON FORMS OF CONSUMER EXPLOITATION:
Exploitation in the market happens in various ways, as
--Underweight& under measurement The goods sold in the market are sometimes not measured or weighted correctly.
--Sub Standard Quality: Selling defective home appliance and expired medicines are its examples.
--High Prices: some times seller charge higher than the MRP.
--Duplicity: Fake and duplicate items are sold in the name of genuine goods.
--Adulteration& Impurities: Adulteration is done in the costly items as in oil, ghee, milk, spices etc. to earn higher profits. This effects consumers health and their money goes waste.
--Lack of safety devices: Electronic goods produced locally lack the required inbuilt safeguards, which may cause accidents.
--Artificial scarcity or shortages: To earn more profits business create artificial scarcity by hoarding and sell the same at higher price.
--False or incomplete information: sellers mislead people by giving wrong information about the products, price, quality, safety, expiry date, maintenance costs etc.
--Unsatisfactory after sales service; many suppliers do not provide satisfactory after sales service in case of expensive electronic equipments, home appliances and cars etc.
--Rough behavior & undue conditions: consumers are often harassed in matters like LPG &telephone connections and in getting licensed items.
Q. Why do consumers get exploited or factors causing exploitation of consumers:
1.limited informatiom.
2.limited supply.
3.limited competition.
4.low literacy or awareness.

CONSUMER MOVEMENT —Factors &Evolution
1. Consumer movement in India arose out of dissatisfaction of the consumers as the sellers were indulging in many unfair practices.
2. There was no legal system available to consumers to protect them from exploitation in market place.
CONSUMER MOVEMENT IN INDIA.
1.As a social force it originated with the necessity of protecting and promoting the interests of consumers against unethical and unfair trade practices.
2.Rampant food shortages, hoarding, black marketing , adulteration of edible oil gave birth to the consumer movement in an organized form in 1960’s.
3.Till 1970’sconsumer organizations were largely engaged in writing articles and holding exhibitions.
4.These organizations formed consumer groups to look into the mal practices in the Ration shops and over crowding in the Road Passenger Transport.
5. More recently India has witnessed an upsurge in the number of organized consumer groups. There are today more than 700 consumer groups in the country of which only about 20-25 are well organized & recognized for their work.
6.India has been observing 24 December as National Consumers’s Day as it was on this day that the Indian parliament enacted COPRA in 1986.
6. India is one country that has exclusive courts for consumer redressal.

CONSUMERS INTERNATIONAL
In 1985 UN adopted the UN guidelines for consumer protection.
This was a tool for nations to adopt measures to protect consumers and for consumer advocacy groups to press their governments to do so.
At the international level it has become the foundation for consumer movement.
Today Consumer International has 240 organisations from over 100 countries.
COPRA—CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT
1. This act was passed in 1986, on 24th December, and since then this day is celebrated as Consumers Day in India.
2. This act was passed to bring pressure on business firms as well as government to correct business conduct , which may be unfair and against the interest of the consumers at large.
3. Under COPRA, a Three –Tier Quasi-Judicial machinery at District, State and National levels have been setup for redressal of consumer disputes.
--District level court deals with the cases involving claims upto Rs 20 lakhs, the State level courts take cases between 20 lakhs to 1 crore& the National leveldeals with the cases involving claims exceeding 1 crore.
If the case is dismissed at Distric level court, the consumer can also appeal in state and than in National level courts.
4. The enactment of COPRA has led to the setting up of separate departments of Consumer Affairs in central & the state govts. Through them the govt. spread information about the legal process which consumer can use. They work through media.
CONSUMER RIGHTS…….1.Safety is everyone’s right:
While using many goods& services, we as consumers, have a right to be protected
against the marketing of goods and delivery of services that are hazardous to life and property.
--Producers need to strictly follow the required rules and regulations.
--There are many goods and services that we purchase require special attention to safety. For example..pressure cookers have a safety valve which if defective can cause accident, LPG gas cylinder should be sealed and leakproof.
2.Right to be Informed: --When we buy a commodity, we find details given on the packing, These details are about ingredients used, price,batch no., date of manufacture, expiry date & address of the manufacturer.
We have right to be informed about the above mentioned informations, so that consumers can complain and ask for composation or replacement in case product proves to be defective
----These days this right has been expanded to cover various services provided by the govt. In October 2005, the govt of India enacted RTI-right to information act, which insures its citizens all the information about the functions of govt. department
3.Right to Choose: Any consumer who receives a service in whatever capacity, regardless of age, gender and nature of service, has a right to choose whether to continue to receive service.
4. Right to Seek Redressal: Consumers have this right against unfair trade practices and exploitation. .If a damage is done to the consumer, she has the right to get compensation depending on the degree of damage.
5. Right to Represent:
--COPRA has enabled us to have the right to represent in the consumer courts.
--There is a three-tier quasi-judicial machinery at district, state and national levels.--There are various organisations locally known as Consumer Forums or Consumer Protection Council, they guide consumers on how to file cases in the consumer courts: they also they also receive financial support from the govt. to create awareness..

THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT IN INDO-CHINA

THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT IN INDO-CHINA

SECTION A — EMERGING FROM THE SHADOW OF CHINA

THE DILEMMA OF COLONIAL EDUCATION AND

HYGIENE, DISEASE AND EVERYDAY RESISTANCE

􀁺 Indo-China comprises the modern countries of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
􀁺 Vietnam followed a Chinese system of government as well as Chinese culture.
􀁺 The French colonised Vietnam. After defeating China, they assumed control of Tonkin and
Anaam.
􀁺 In 1887, French Indo-China was formed.
􀁺 Colonies were considered essential to supply natural resources and other essential goods. The
French built infrastructure projects to help transport goods for trade, move military garrisons
and control the entire region.
􀁺 The colonial economy in Vietnam was based on rice cultivation and rubber plantations. Very
little industrialisation of Vietnam by France.
􀁺 To counter Chinese influence, the French systematically dismantled the traditional
educational system and established French schools for the Vietnamese.
􀁺 The textbooks glorified French rule and culture.
􀁺 Students fought against discrimination against the Vietnamese in white collar jobs. Schools
became important place for cultural and political battles. Education became an important part
of the larger battle against colonialism and for independence.
􀁺 In 1902, the French part of Hanoi was hit by a rat menace. Vietnamese were paid to catch
and kill the rats. Plague swept the area in 1903, as clever Vietnamese took to clipping the
rats’ tails as proofs. They let the rats go.
􀁺 Colonialism was fought in such resistant acts in everyday life.

SECTION B — (I) RELIGION AND ANTI-COLONIALISM

(II) THE VISION OF MODERNISATION
(III) THE COMMUNIST MOVEMENT AND VIETNAMESE NATIONALISM
􀁺 Religious beliefs of Vietnam were a mixture of Buddhism, Confucianism and local practices.
􀁺 The French introduced Christianity, their Missionaries were hostile to the easy-going attitude
of the Vietnamese towards religion.
􀁺 Scholars’ Revolt of 1868 : Led by officials of the Imperial Court. Uprising in Ngu An and
Ha Tien provinces killed a thousand Catholics. By the middle of the 18th century 300,000
people converted to Christianity. Revolt suppressed by the French.
􀁺 The Hoa Hao Movement began in 1939 under its founder Huynh Phu So.
􀁺 He performed miracles, helped the poor, opposed sale of brides, gambling and use of opium
and alcohol.
􀁺 The French declared him mad and sent him to a mental asylum. Freed in 1946, but exiled
to Laos. Followers sent to concentration camps.
􀁺 Vision of Modernisation : Two opinions held (i) Vietnamese traditions had to be
strengthened to resist western domination. (ii) The second school felt that the Vietnamese had
to learn from the West, while resisting its domination.
􀁺 Phan Boi Chau (1867-1940) formed the ‘Revolution Society’ (Duy Tan Hoi) in 1903 with
Prince Cuong De as the lead. He wrote a book, ‘History of the Loss of Vietnam’ under the
influence of the Chinese reformer Liang Qichao (1873-1929). He believed that the French
should be driven out first and then monarchy should be restored in Vietnam.
􀁺 Phan Chu Trinh (1871-1926) differed strongly. He was totally opposed to monarchy and
wanted to establish a democratic republic.
􀁺 Go East Movement : Some 300 Vietnamese students went to Japan in 1907-08 to acquire
modern education. Their aim was to drive out the French and re-establish the Ngu Yen
dynasty. They wanted Japanese help and established a Restoration Society in Tokyo. But
after 1908, the Japanese closed the society, and sent many of them, including Phan Boi Chau
to exile in China and Thailand.
􀁺 Whe Sun Yat Sen overthrew monarchy in China in 1911, a new association – Association for
Restoration of Vietnam was formed. Their objective was to have a Democratic Republic and
a Constitutional Monarchy in Vietnam.
􀁺 The Communist Movement
􀁺 The Great Depression of the 1930s led to unemployment, debts and rural uprisings in Vietnam.
􀁺 A new leader, Ho Chi Minh, appeared on the scene in 1930. He established the Vietnamese
Communist (Vietnam Cong San Dang) Party, inspired by Europeon communists.
􀁺 Ho Chi Minh (He who enlightens) was born in Central Vietnam; later became an active
member of the committee. He met Lenin and other leaders. After 30 years stay in Europe,
Thailand and China he returned to Vietnam in May 1941. He became President of Vietnam
Democratic Republic.
􀁺 In 1940, Japan occupied Vietnam. The League for the Independence of Vietnam (known as
the Viet Minh) fought the Japanese, recaptured Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh became the chairman
of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in September 1943.
􀁺 Vietnamese Nationalism : The French set up a puppet regime under Bao Dai as Emperor.
After years of fighting, the French were finally defeated in 1954 at Dien Bien Phu.
􀁺 The Battle of Dien Bien Phu (1953-1954)
􀁺 On 7 May, 1954, more than 16,000 soldiers of the French army were either killed or captured.
The entire French commanding staff, including a General, 16 Colonels, 1749 officers were
taken prisoner.
􀁺 Vietnam was divided into North and South Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh and Bao Dai became rulers
in north and south respectively.
􀁺 The division led to war. The Bau Dai regime was overthrown by Ngo Dinh Diem. The south
united and formed the National Liberation Front (NLF) and fought for unification of the
country under Ho Chi Minh.
􀁺 Fear of communism made the US intervene in Vietnam and a bitter war was fought during
1965-1972. Finally, peace was restored in 1974.

SECTION C — THE NATION AND ITS HEROES

THE END OF WAR

􀁺 Women played no role in public life of the Vietnamese, but the freedom struggle led to an
emerging new image of womanhood.
􀁺 Women like Trung sisters (39-43 CE) became idols. Same was the case with Trieu Au of 3rd
century CE.
􀁺 In the 1960s, women were depicted as young, brave and dedicated. They were shown as
warriors and workers.
􀁺 The image of the warrior woman was replaced with the image of worker woman, in the
1970s, when the end of the war was near.
􀁺 The US failed to achieve its objectives in the US Vietnam war.
􀁺 The US-Vietnam war was called the first television war.
􀁺 On 30 April, 1975 the North Liberation Front (NLF) occupied the presidential palace in
Saigon and unified Vietnam.

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