Day 21 – Q 5.Are NGOs associated with environmental issues a hurdle for economic growth? Critically examine.
5. Are NGOs associated with environmental issues a hurdle for economic growth? Critically examine.
क्या पर्यावरणीय मुद्दों से जुड़े एनजीओ आर्थिक विकास के लिए बाधा हैं? समालोचनात्मक जांच करें।
Introduction:
Non-governmental Organizations are non-profit organizations of individuals, activist’s, voluntaries or social persons who work for social or political causes. They can also be considered as Interest groups. Recently, Intelligence Bureau report has accused foreign funded NGO’s for stalling developmental projects in country.
Body:
NGO’s Associated with environmental issues are hurdle to economic growth:
- Stalling projects: They create hurdle for starting or running of projects. Ex: Kudankulam, Narmada dam, Sardar sarovar etc.
- Judicial cases: Approach court and obtain stay order even when cleared by concerned ministries.
- Employment: Due to stalling of projects, huge potential for employment generation is prevented.
- Cost overrun: Due to delay in project completion, judicial cases etc. the costs overshoot leading to financial issues.
- NPA: Due to delayed production and cost overrun, the break-even point is not achieved as expected leading to Non-performing assets.
- Strikes and lockouts: They pursue workers to indulge in strikes against management leading to loss of precious man hours and production.
- Anti-development: Certain NGO’s are misleading farmers to strike against GMO crops and Hybrid crop varieties leading to increase in import bills. Ex: Edible oils, Vegetables etc.
They cannot be branded as Anti-development and hurdle to economic development:
- Tribal interests: They indulge in protecting interests and livelihood of primitive owners of land.
- Long term objectives: They help in overcoming the short term objectives of government and show case long term effects due to certain projects. Ex: Dam construction in Uttarakhand along Ganges.
- Climate change: They are fighting for reversing climate change and also in implementation of Paris Climate Accord.
- Pollution: They are fighting for clean air to breathe or else every city in India will rank in Worst air quality index list.
- Sustainable development: They highlight about the need for sustainable development.
- Indigenous flora and fauna: They help in preserving indigenous practices and varieties of flora and fauna especially against onslaught of corporates promoted GMO and Hybrid crops.
Conclusion:
The NGO’s sponsored by corporates and foreign bodies are working for the interests of their sponsors and negatively impacted GDP growth of 2-3% as per the recent claims by IB report. It might be one side of story but citing it, entire NGO establishments cannot be blamed. They have been the torch bearers of Climate change and Sustainable Developmental goals.
Best Answer: Shweta
