Page 46 - Health, Population and Environment Education 9

3.1 Inter–relationship between Population, Environment and Development
People are the individuals living in a particular place at a time. Environment is the sum
of everything surrounding us. It includes biotic and abiotic components which affect
individual life and its development. Development is the positive growth. It is the gradual
change and improvement in individual’s life. Population, environment and development
are inter–related and inter–dependent on one another. Environment is the base for
existence of people. People should conserve the environment and use the resources
in environment in a sustainable way. Environment supplies various resources for the
development works. Effective conduction of development works supports conservation
of environment. Development works provide many opportunities to people. People must
conduct development works in an eco–friendly manner.
Environment

Natural Environment

Man-made Environment
Socio–cultural Environment
Environmental Degradation Economic Environment Environmental Degradation

Development Activities
Fig: 1 Population Development

Environment is most essential for people. The proper growth, development and survival
of people depend on environment. People get air, water and food from environment.
They grow food and have shelter on land. Environment supports for social development
of people. People organize various festivals, ceremonies, traditions, rituals and religious
practices in day to day activities. Fruits, flowers, cereals, plants, animals needed for
such social traditions, cultural activities and religious practices are part of environment.
Environment is related with economic condition of people as well as for the industrial
development. Environment supplies various raw materials like cotton, jute, sugarcane, tea,
coffee, timber, medicinal plants, etc. to various industries which later on produce different
goods and items. Moreover, industrial development creates more job opportunities for
people. But there has been rapid increase of population nowadays. People randomly
and massively utilize various resources in environment. As a result, there is increase
of environmental degradation and people are facing scarcity of underground water,
depletion of wildlife, increase of pollution, spreading of diseases, occurrence of natural
calamities and so on.

Development activities bring positive changes in people’s life. They help to make
availability of facilities like health services, education, transportation, communication,
sanitation, drinking water, employment, security, entertainment, etc. These all bring
social and economic changes in our life. Actually, various resources like forest, water, soil,
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