The Development of India - Essay Example

Running Head: THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIA Name Institution Date Development of India Natural disasters are commonly termed as extreme events brought about by geophysical causes that affect an exposed as well as a helpless society in ways that exceeds the society’s coping capacity and therefore calling for an outside assistance. As a result, natural disasters set up severe problems, especially to a number of developing nations where they frequently instigate high numbers of fatalities, have devastating effects on a large population, as well as incurring significant social, economic in addition to long-standing development losses (Karlsruher, 2004). The rate of the reappearance of major and unpleasant cases of such events appears to be on the rise in the recent past and have therefore intensified the understanding of the various devastating impacts of such disasters on various nations. This particular essay therefore seeks to evaluate the extent at which natural disasters as well as the geographical factors plays a role in holding back the progress of India as a developing nation. It will therefore be able give proofs on why various factors such as geographical factors, natural disasters, class conflicts and ethnicity have affected the progress of India as a developing nation. The ability of India to develop effectively and efficiently is often hindered by natural disaster and geographical factors, however, one should not dismiss the significant role class conflicts and ethic problems also play role. Natural Disasters As a developing nation found in Asia, India is located within the globe’s hazard belts that are more prone to natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, cyclones, windstorms, avalanches, tidal waves and landslides occurring as a result of heavy rains. Floods which form the most frequent disaster and which come in form of seasonal, flash or urban floods as a result of lack of enough drainage facilities have more often than not affected the development of India. India, for instance has an approximately 40 million hectares of land that is prone to flooding every year. The average direct damage caused by this flooding on a yearly basis has always been approximated at $ 240 million with the figure thought to increase by over $ 1.5 billion in cases of severe floods. According to Gurenko (2007), the public sector in India faces various threats resulting from changes in climate. Flooding has a natural disaster imply a rising cost for infrastructure. Extreme events are even more costly and divert resources that initially would have been meant for India’s economic development thereby hindering its economic progress. According to Gurenko (2007), the World Bank approximates the direct economic losses resulting from natural disasters on yearly basis to amount to a figure of 2% of India’s GDP. The World Bank also noted an increasing instability occurring as a result of monetary losses from natural calamities. All these play a significant role as they hold back India’s development. Approximately 33% of arable land in India is also deemed as drought-prone with a further 35% being affected during periods when the amount of rainfall is extremely low for longer periods of time. On the whole, the potential impacts of all these natural disasters on Indian economy have normally been severe as they are also accompanied by similar consequences including loss of human lives and massive destruction of properties. Geographical Factors Another significant factor affecting India’s progress is geography, where the country is located globally, and its climate. India has always been extremely vulnerable to disasters due to its peculiar geo-climatic conditions. The Bhuj earth quake India, for instance left about 13805 deaths whereas the Super Cyclone at Orissa left about 9885 people dead (Rajib, 2009).Having a tropical climate and unstable landforms, together with a high population concentration, India appears as among the most vulnerable developing nations that more often than not suffer from severe natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, cyclones, windstorms, avalanches, tidal waves and landslides occurring as a result of heavy rains. Whenever they strike, they have often resulted into destructive impacts on human lives, the environment and the economy of India (Jeremy, 2007). This has often hindered the economic progress of India in cases of natural disasters since resources are then focused on providing relief towards the affected people and reconstruction after the effects of any given disaster. The affected state government in India manages all the relief work and the reconstruction efforts using the financial support from the central government. All these draws back the government’s progress as resources meant for development are diverted into other things other than development. India is also found within the tropics commonly associated with hot climates, infertile lands that do not support sufficient agriculture, scarcity of water and where diseases thrive. India is therefore at a natural disadvantage as far as geographical factors are concerned and this plays a significant role in hindering its development programmes (Rajamanickam et.al., 2004). India is also situated within the globe’s most vulnerable belts and which are frequently exposed to a number of natural disasters. This has always hindered the development of India due to the impact of such disasters to its economy. Another factor playing a significant role towards the progress of India is environmental stability. Some nations are more stable compared to others. India as a nation is prone to natural disasters and does not therefore attract business investments from other nations. This plays a role hindering its progress economically (Jeremy, 2007). Ethnicity According to Weiner (1983), India is characterized by many ethnic groups compared to many other nations of the world. The revival of tension often between various ethnic groups involving majority Hindu and Muslims has always captured the world’s attention. Mahajan (2006) highlights that; the Assam and Punjab state ethnic conflicts have always stood out in India while still attracting the greatest attention. The Assam problems are commonly ethnic with the Punjab problems majorly based on religious and regional conflicts. Its impact on India’s economic progress can therefore not be overlooked as it has always played a significant impact on to it. For instance, violence that was witnessed across Gujarat in the year 2002 suggested extreme ethnic differences that were mainly instigated further by religious differences between the majority Hindu and the sizeable Muslims. This implies that India is more often than not entrenched in internal struggles that make it more difficult for it to get assistance from the world economy (Myers & Varshney, 2002). This hinders further the economic progress of India affecting its general development. With such internal unrest mostly fuelled by ethnicity, India faces community as well as global difficulties that hold back all its development prospects. Major factors such as ethnicity have therefore had a significant influence towards its development and have without doubt made it more difficult to take up solution (Singh, 1998).As a result, India’s general progress as a developing nation is hindered by the ethnic factors and unless these strifes are eradicated, it will not develop much. Class Conflicts According to Cullenberg (2003), class is a subject representing members of a given society having certain identical characteristics. They indicate opposed relations among various groups of people and therefore class struggles is witnessed among the various groups. In India, class conflict witnessed between classes is mainly linked to the concept of contradiction where there is conflict of economic interest among members of various classes. This has been structural as seen through its origin in India, historically instigated as well as being potentially hostile. According to Cullenberg there exist only two classes in India; the ruling class comprising of big landowners and the oppressed class comprising of agricultural laborers. The ruling classes derive various social as well as economic powers through their ownership of large tracts of land and are therefore exploitative. Cullenberg (2003) argues that any contradiction between the various class groups in India is diffused and blunted and really plays no role in changing the society. As a result, the agricultural laborers have always found it difficult transforming themselves. Big landowners on the other hand have always been able to come together around economic interests as provided by the economic structure. And because of the contrasting class formation in India, it has failed to attain its pure form yet. This means any change can only be witnessed if all the classes have successfully transformed in much the same level. Conclusion Compared to other significant causes, natural disasters play a significant role in drawing back the progress of India as a developing nation. This can be supported by the fact that India is located in a more hazardous environment that has more often than not worsened the frequency as well as the severity of the various disasters. And with the unstable landforms, unstable land forms and increase of unplanned growth seen through non-engineered constructions, which make the disaster-prone areas more vulnerable, India suffers more chronically from natural disasters. Reference Cullenberg, S & Chakrabarti, A. (2003).Transition and Development in India. Routledge. Gurenko, E. (2000).Climate Change and Insurance: Disaster Risk Financing in Developing Countries, Volume 6 of Climate Change and Insurance, Earthscan. Jeremy. (2007).Geographical Factors that Affect Development, Retrieved on November 11 from http://makewealthhistory.org/2007/07/01/geographical-factors-that-affect-development/ Myers, J.J & Varshney, A. (2002).Ethnic Conflict and Civic Life: Hindus and Muslims in India Retrieved on November 11 from http://www.carnegiecouncil.org/resources/transcripts/143.html Mahajan, S. (2006).Globalization and Social Change, Lotus Press. Reihe, Karlsruher.(2004).Natural Disaster Risk Management and Financing Disaster Losses in Developing Countries, Volume 2 of Karlsruher Reihe, Verlag Versicherungswirtsch. Rajib, S and Krishnamurthy, R. (2009).Disaster Management: Global Challenges and Local Solutions. Universities Press. Rajamanickam, G.V, India Department of Science and Technology and Earth System Science Division.26th December 2004 Tsunami: Causes, Effects, Remedial Measures, Pre and Post Tsunami Disaster Management, a Geoscientific Perspective. New Academic Publishers. Singh, N. (1998).Cultural Conflict in India: Punjab and Kashmir. Weiner, M. (1983).Ethnic and Religious Conflicts in India. Read More