Health, Population and Environment Education 9

Approved by Government of Nepal, Ministry of Education, Curriculum Development
Centre, Sanothimi, Bhaktapur as an additional material




Green


Health,



Population &



Environment



Education




9








Editor
Jayananda Kapadi


Authors
Bhan Dev Kapadi
Biraj Shrestha
Deepak Bhatta
Ranjana Prajapati










Lalitpur, Nepal, Tel: 977-1-5529899
E-mail: [email protected]
www.greenbooks.com.np

Green
Health,

Population &

Environment

Education 9




Publisher: Green Books
Copyright: Authors and Editor(2075 BS)
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means without prior permission
in writing from the authors and editor.


Edition
B.S. 2075 (2018 AD)


Layout
The Focus Computer
[email protected]



Printed in Nepal

Preface


It gives us an immense pleasure in presenting this book- Green
Health, Population and Environment Education for class 9. This
book has been written specially to meet the requirements of the
new syllabus introduced by Government of Nepal, Ministry
of Education, Curriculum Development Centre, Sanothimi,
Bhaktapur, Nepal.

Our aim and effort while writing this book is to help students
understand, enjoy and appreciate the fascinating subject of
Health, Population and Environment Education by making
the process of learning enjoyable and stimulating. We have
attempted to present the subject matter covering the entire
prescribed syllabus. Each unit of the book has been carefully
planned to make it student-friendly and present the subject
matter in an interesting, understandable and enjoyable manner.

The text is supplemented with weighting distribution, learning
outcomes, course outline, glossary and a large number of well-
labelled accurate pictures. We sincerely hope that this book will
serve its intended purpose and be received enthusiastically by
both the students and teachers concerned.

We wish to express our sincere gratitude to Green Books
Team for publishing this book. Our hearty thanks go to Focus
Computer for excellent type setting and layout.
We also wish to acknowledge our great indebtedness to many
teachers for their valuable suggestions and advice concerning
the textbook. We are confident that as result of their suggestions
this book will be more useful than any other textooks. However,
sympathetic criticisms and constructive suggestions for further
improvement of the book, if any, will be welcomed and with
warm regards incorporated in the subsequent editions.

Authors and Editor
Kathmandu, Nepal
February 2018

Content



1. General Concept of Health, Population and Environment Education....... 5
2. Demography and Population Change ................................ 22
3. Environment, Population and Development .......................... 45
4. Demographic Status and Environment in Nepal ....................... 63

5. Family Life Education .............................................. 88
6. Natural Resource and Biodiversity .................................. 131
7. Environmental Health............................................. 159

8. Adolescence, Sexual and Reproductive Health ....................... 189
9. Consumer Health ................................................. 215
10. Primary Health Care, Precaution and Safety.......................... 235


4 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

UNIT General Concept of Health,
1 Population and Environment




Education



Estimated Teaching Periods: 16



Learning Outcomes
Learning Objectives
After completing the study of this unit, students will be able to:
i. be familiar with the concept of health, population and environment education.
ii. identify the relation among health, population and environment education.


Course Outline

1.1 Introduction to Health, Population and Environment Education
1.2 Introduction to Health and Health Education
1.3 Introduction to Population and Population Education
1.4 Introduction to Environment and Environment Education
1.5 Scope of Health, Population and Environment Education
1.6 Inter-relation between Different Aspects of Health, Population and Environment
Education

Glossary

degradation : the act or process of damaging or ruining something
anxiety : fear or nervousness about what might happen
dizziness : having a whirling sensation in the head with a tendency to fall
immunization : to give a vaccine to prevent infection by a disease
sanitation : the process of keeping places free from dirt, infection, disease, etc. by
removing wastes, trash and garbage, by cleaning streets, etc.
sustainable : involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural
resources
desertification : the process by which an area becomes a desert
urbanization : the process by which towns and cities are formed and become larger as
more and more people begin living and working in central areas
calamity : an event that causes great harm and suffering
esteem : respect and affection


GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 5

1.1 Introduction to Health, Population and Environment Education
Health is the basic right of every individual. Everyone needs to become healthy and free
from diseases. But, people cannot remain healthy unless and until they make several
efforts for becoming healthy. They must maintain personal hygiene, cleanliness, sanitation,
consume balanced diet, do regular physical exercises, etc. so as to remain healthy. They
need to have knowledge and understanding about health education. Health education
provides scientific knowledge, skills and understanding to practice various health rules
and behaviours. Health education supports in maintaining good health.




Health
Education





Health, Population
Environment and Environment Population
Education Education
Education


Fig: 1
Environment includes the things surrounding us. It consists of abiotic and biotic
components. They are essential for the proper growth, development and survival of
human beings. People utilize various resources in environment in one way or another.
There has been random and massive utilization of resources in environment due to rapid
increase of population growth. As a result, there is increase of pollution, deforestation,
environment degradation and their consequences. Hence, it is necessary to control the
population. Population education generates awareness on people regarding the effects
of population growth and ways to control it. People must wisely use the resources in
environment. They must have ideas and knowledge on environment and environment
education. Environment education brings change in attitude and concept of people for
proper management and sustainable use of resources. People must utilize knowledge
on health, population and environment education combinely for maintaining health,
controlling population and conserving environment.




1.2 Introduction to Health and Health Education
a. Introduction to health

According to WHO, health can be defined as, “A state of complete physical, mental, social
and spiritual well being and not merely the absence of any disease or infirmities.”



6 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

The above definition says that a person is healthy when s/he
possesses various qualities. A person should be physically
strong, fit, mentally sharp and socially adjustable so as to be
said as healthy. Above all, a healthy person should be free
from any disease or any physical defirmities.


Physical well being Fig: 2
Physical well being is the condition in which a person is physically fit and strong, has
proper development of body systems and organs and is free from diseases as well.

Mental well being
Mental well being is the condition in which a person is mentally alert and sharp, has
proper development of mind, is able to judge right and wrong and able to take right
decisions at right time.

Social well being
Social well being is the condition in which a person is famous, follows norms and values
in society, is socially adjustable and has better relationship with others. Similarly, the
person should be is able to take leadership as well.

Spiritual well being
Spiritual well being is the condition in which a person is happy enough performing
spiritual activities.

Criticisms of definition of health given by WHO
The definition of health as given by WHO is broad. Though it is defined by WHO, it has
some drawbacks and is criticized. The definition is started with a state. But, health is not
a state. It is the reflection of our body systems, functioning of body organs and mind. It
is said that a person should be free from diseases and infirmities. Our health is dynamic
in nature and keeps on changing time and again. No matter how hard we try and make
efforts, we cannot remain healthy all the time throughout the whole year and life. Our
health may not remain constant in the morning and at night. Similarly, a person should
have physical, mental, social and spiritual well being to be said as healthy. But, it is very
hard to find a healthy person as healthy as defined by WHO. A person may not possess
all those qualities. A person may be good in one aspect but bad in another aspect. For
example, differently abled people are also famous and mentally sharp. Hellen Keller was
dumb, deaf and blind but she was said as mentally sharp and famous. Many players and
movie stars are physically fit and very popular but it is not sure that they are mentally
sharp. A very famous scholar may not be physically strong.
Every individual should try to remain healthy. A healthy person has several qualities/
characteristics. They are listed below:

Free from diseases Cooperative and friendly
Free from mental tensions and anxieties Self disciplined

GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 7

Happy and satisfied Self actualization

Mentally alert Self confident and self controlled
Good appetite and sound sleep

When people are free from mental tension and anxieties, they remain happy. Happiness
increases positive energy in our body which supports to become healthy. When people
have good appetite, the systems and organs can function well. Sound sleep makes our
body relaxed, prevent dizziness, weakness and strengthens the immune system so that
people can overcome diseases. Cooperativeness and friendly behaviour make people
popular and happy. Self discipline makes control over bad activities (smoking, drinking
alcohol, taking drugs, crimes, violence) and mental tensions. Self confidence boosts up self
esteem, reduces fear and anxiety. Self actualization makes us to realize on our mistakes
which supports in reducing mental tension and remain happy and healthy.


b. Introduction to health education

People need to remain healthy. They should make some efforts for becoming healthy. Health
education provides knowledge on various aspects of health and guides in many ways to
take care of our health and body. It is the education on health and health related matters.
According to the society of Public Health, health education can be defined as, “A process
which affects changes in the health practices of people and in the knowledge and attitudes
related to such changes.”

Health education can be defined as an educational process through which individuals
gain knowledge, skills and understanding about health matters in order to modify
superstitious and traditional beliefs on health matter so as to gain quality of life.
Health education is such an educational process which provides us knowledge, ideas and
understanding on maintenance of personal hygiene, sanitation, cleanliness, management
of wastes, need of clean and safe water, importance of balanced diet, control of diseases
and pollution etc. With the knowledge and understanding on all those health matters,
people can bring change in their attitudes and behaviours towards maintaining health.
They can even modify various superstitious beliefs on health matters. Hence, people can
remain healthy and happy with the knowledge, understanding and change in attitudes
as well as behaviours.


c. Importance of health education
We can summarize the importance of health education under following points.

i. Health education helps to develop and practice healthy behaviours and healthy rules.
ii. It provides knowledge and understanding about maintenance of personal hygiene,
cleanliness, sanitation, management of wastes, etc.
iii. It gives ideas about diseases, their causes, symptoms and preventive measures.
iv. It generates awareness on existing ecological health hazards in a place.

8 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

v. It motivates people to utilize available health services in the local level.
vi. It encourages people to participate in the solution of existing health problems in their
locality.
vii. It provides scientific knowledge on various health matters.
viii. It brings change in attitudes and behaviours of people towards healthy behaviours.

ix. It helps to modify superstitious and traditional beliefs on various health matters.



1.3 Introduction to Population and Population Education

a. Introduction to population

Human beings are social animals that live in a society. There is birth of a child in a family.
Once a person is born, death is sure. People migrate from one place to another to seek
good opportunities. People never remain in the same place. Birth, death and migration
cause change of population.
Population is a group of individuals living in a particular place at a particular time.


b. Introduction to population education
Rapid increase of population is burning issue and it has created a great problem in the
overall development of a nation. With the increase of population, there is increase in demand
of food, shelter, clothes, health services, education, transportation, communication,
employment and entertainment facilities. Even there is random increase of deforestation,
unmanaged urbanization, industrialization, scarcity of underground water, increase of
pollution, global warming, desertification, occurrence of natural calamities etc. There
is serious impact on social, economic and environmental sectors with the increase of
population. Hence, it is most essential to provide population education to students.
Population education imparts necessary information and knowledge on all those above
mentioned problems. It plays a crucial role in generating awareness for the solution of the
problems of population in a reasonable way.
Population education has been defined by many educators in different ways. The first
regional workshop on population and family life education organized by regional office
of UNESCO, Bangkok in 1970 A.D. has defined population education as, “An educational
programme which helps in developing awareness and understanding of population
situations as well as a rationale attitude and behaviours towards those situations for the
attainment of quality of life of the individual, the family, the community, the nation and
the world.”
Population education can also be defined as an educational process by which individuals
gain knowledge, skills and understanding on population and population matters so that
they can bring change in their attitudes and behaviours towards population matters.
Population education is a multi-dimensional subject. It gives knowledge and
understanding about many subjects. It provides knowledge on sex education in which
GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 9

we can study about the reproductive system, its organs, their structures and functions.
With the knowledge on reproductive system, we know about differences between males
and females. It awares people about sex hygiene and motivates people to practice healthy
sexual behaviours for happiness and satisfaction. It also provides knowledge about
population and population matters. It shows the statistics on demography, population
size, structure, density, composition, etc. Moreover, it clarifies the effects of population
growth on social-economic and environmental aspects with various ways to control
population. Like use of contraceptive devices, birth spacing, marriage at appropriate age,
gender equality, improvement of status of women, etc. Similarly, population education
has relationship with health education as well. It generates awareness on diseases, their
causes, symptoms and preventive measures. It motivates people to maintain personal
hygiene, sanitation, cleanliness, management of wastes, control of pollution, use of health
services, etc. Likewise, it provides knowledge on environment and environment related
matters. It shows the relationship between population and resources in environment.
Above all, it encourages people for sustainable use of resources as well as initiates people
to adopt scientific ways to conserve and manage the resources in environment.
Population education is very broad. It provides knowledge on health education and
environment education along with population matters. It addresses various problems
related to them. Hence, it has multidimensional approach.
Family planning education
Family life education Environment education
Population Education
Reproductive health Sex education
Demography



c. Importance of population education
We can summarize the importance of population education under the following points:
i. It gives knowledge on population size, structure, density, composition, population
situation, etc.
ii. It shows the inter-relationship between people and resources in environment.
iii. It gives ideas on effects of population growth on social, economic and environmental
aspects.
iv. It encourages people to conduct development activities in view of environment
protection.
v. It provides scientific knowledge on people regarding the control of population.
vi. It provides knowledge on early marriage and its disadvantages as well as marriage at
appropriate age and its advantages.
vii. It encourages people to maintain the family size as small as possible.
viii. It awares people about negative attitudes on various population issues.
ix. It brings change in attitudes and behaviours of people towards population matters.

10 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

1.4 Introduction to Environment and Environment Education

a. Introduction to environment
Environment includes everything surrounding us. There is presence of air, water,
soil, minerals, plants, animals, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, micro-organisms
including the human beings in the surroundings. Human beings perform various social
traditions, cultural activities and religious practices in day to day life. These all are parts
of environment. Air, water, soil and minerals are the abiotic factors and are regarded as
physical aspects of environment. Plants, animals, birds, insects, micro-organisms, etc. are
biotic factors and are regarded as biological aspects whereas social traditions, cultural
activities and religious practices are regarded as socio-cultural aspect. Various human
activities as well as other environmental resources are affected by the moon, planets,
stars, satellites and other heavenly bodies. Hence, sky and the entire universe are also the
environment.
Environment

Physical Aspects Biological Aspects Socio-cultural Aspects
e.g. plants, animals, e.g. social tradition,
Natural things Artificial things birds, insects, rituals, customs, norms,
e.g. air, water, e.g. buildings, microbes, etc. values, etc.
soil, minerals, roads, bridges,
etc. schools, etc.
“Environment is the sum total of all the external conditions and their influences on the
development cycle of biotic elements.”


b. Introduction to environment education
All the components of environment are very important for people. They are directly
and indirectly linked for the proper growth, development and survival of people. With
the increase of population, various resources in environment are haphazardly utilized.
As a result, various environmental problems and consequences are observed which in
turn harm people themselves. People must use the resources in a sustainable way and
implement the ideas of environment education wisely. Environment education teaches us
the conservation of all the components of environment and its whole system in totality.
According to IUCN (1970), “Environment Education is a process of recognizing values and
clarifying concepts in order to develop skills and attitudes necessary to understand and
appreciate the inter-relationship of a man, his culture and his biophysical surrounding.”
Environment Education also entails practice in decision making and self formulation of a
code of behaviour about issues concerning environmental quality.

Environment education can also be defined as an educational process by which people
gain knowledge, skills and understanding on environment and environmental matters
so that they can bring change in their attitudes and behaviours for sustainable use and
conservation of resources in environment.


GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 11

c. Importance of environment education
We can summarize the importance of environment education under the following points:

i. It gives knowledge about components of environment.
ii. It shows the relationship of humans with the environmental resources.
iii. It provides knowledge on 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) principle.

iv. It awares people about the effects of human activities on environment.
v. It provides scientific knowledge for the conservation and management of resources
in environment.
vi. It gives ideas about various environmental issues like pollution, global warming,
climate change, greenhouse effect, acid rainfall, desertification, etc.

vii. It helps in the establishment of national parks, wildlife reserves, conservation areas
etc.

viii. It encourages people to participate actively for the conservation of resources in
environment.
ix. It provides knowledge on negative attitude of people regarding the use of resources.

x. It supports in bringing change in attitudes and behaviours of people towards
sustainable use of resources.



1.5 Scope of Health, Population and Environment Education

Scope refers to the extent of the area or subject matter that something deals with or to
which it is relevant. When we say about the scope of subject, it is the field or area where
we implement the knowledge on particular subject matter. Health, population and
environment education are three different subjects. But, they are inter-related with one
another. Each of the subjects has different importance and scope as well. Each of them
influences the other.


A. Scope of health education

The area or place from where we gain knowledge about health and health related matters
is known as scope of health education.

We can study scope of health education under two headings as:
a. Social settings b. Relationship with other subjects

a. Social settings
People live in society. Society comprises of community, family, home, school, etc. We can
study scope of health education as home, school and community under social settings.




12 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

i. Home
Home is the first school for every individual. People
learn about various things including health and
health related matters from the parents and other
family members in home. Generally, they gain
practical experiences and learning about maintenance
of personal hygiene, sanitation, cleanliness, control of
pollution, control of diseases, management of wastes Fig: 3
etc. from the family members. Home
In home, parents and other family members keep on suggesting the children regarding
various health matters like wash face, brush teeth, bath regularly, comb hair, wash hand
with soap before eating, not to play on dust, drink boiled and filtered water, not to eat too
much chocolates, trim nails, change clothes regularly, wake up and sleep at proper time
and so on.

ii. School
School is the place where individuals gain formal and
informal education. In school, students learn about
health and health related matters from different
subjects like science, health and physical education,
health, population and environment education
formally. It is the place where there is gathering of Fig: 4
students from different localities and communities. School
The students share among themselves regarding practical knowledge and experiences on
health matters. Similarly, they can learn various books, magazines, journals, newspapers
in school library from where they gain knowledge about health matters.

iii. Community
Community involves the gathering of people in
assemblies, factories, industries, festivals, ceremonies,
conferences, organizations, etc. In such gatherings,
people can be given ideas on health and health
related matters like maintenance of personal hygiene,
cleanliness, sanitation, control of diseases, control of
pollution, management of wastes, use of contraceptive Fig: 5
devices, immunization or vaccination, etc. Community
b. Relationship with other subjects

People gain knowledge about health matters from
different subjects like physics, chemistry, biology,
medicine, psychology, home science, health and
physical education, sociology, anthropology, etc.
In physics, we learn about nuclear reactions, radiations,
etc. which have direct relation with health. Various Fig: 6
medical equipments are made based on several Pathology lab
GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 13

principles of physics. In chemistry, we learn about chemicals, gases, etc. which can cause
serious impact in our health. Even several medicines/drugs are made of various chemicals.
In biology, we learn about our health, body systems, organs, etc. In medicine, students learn
about human anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, community medicine, pathology, etc.
which are directly linked with our health. Psychology is related with mind and functioning
of mind. In home science, we learn about cooking food, maintaining hygiene, preservation of
nutrients, etc. which directly affect our health. In physical education, we learn about playing
games. Games have direct impact in our health. The nutrition and health of players affect
their performance in games. In sociology, we learn about society, social traditions, cultural
activities, religions, customs, food habits, etc. In many traditions and cultural activities, people
are encouraged for smoking, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, consuming too much oily, spicy,
roasted food items which directly affect our health.

B. Scope of population education

The subject matters or contents related to population and population matters is called as
scope of population education.
We can study the scope of population education under five different headings as:


i. Demography
Demography is made up of two Greek terms ‘Demos’ and ‘Graphien’ in which ‘Demos’
is people/population where as ‘Graphien’ is the study. Hence, the literal meaning of
demography is study of population.
Demography is the scientific, mathematical and statistical study of population in reference
to population size, structure, density, composition, distribution, etc.

ii. Determinants of population change
Those factors which determine and are responsible for change of population are called
determinants of population change. Birth, death and migration are the major determinants
of population change. Birth increases population and death decreases population whereas
migration can either increase or decrease the population. Similarly, various socio-cultural,
biological and environmental factors also determine population.

iii. Effects of rapid population growth
Due to rapid population growth, there is serious
impact on social, economic and environmental
sectors. When there is increase of population,
there is scarcity of facilities like health services,
education, sanitation, transportation, etc. This
increases social crimes like pick pocketing,
stealing, kidnapping, robberies, etc. and disturbs
the harmony in society. Increase of population
creates scarcity of jobs which affects in
economic condition. Moreover, the resources in Fig: 7


14 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

environment are massively utilized which leads towards several environmental problems
and consequences.

iv. Human sexuality and reproduction
This topic deals with the reproductive system and sexual behaviours of human beings. In
this topic, we study about the following things:
- The reproductive system, its organs, their structure and functions
- Differences between reproductive system of male and female as well as their
perception about reproduction
- Sex education and its importance
- Ways or means for healthy sexual behaviours and maintenance of sex hygiene


v. Planning for future
People need to make planning for various things which plays an important role for
happiness and satisfaction in their life. Generally, people need to plan for the following
things:
- Marriage
- Size of family/Number of children

- Birth spacing
- Use of contraceptive devices
- Education

- Employment/Profession
- Place of living


c. Scope of environment education
The subject matters or contents related to environment and environment matters is called
scope of environment education.
We can study the scope of environment education under three headings as:


a. Physical aspect
Physical aspect includes the natural things and artificial or man-made things.

i. Natural things
Those things which are freely available in nature or the free gifts of nature are called
natural things. They are the abiotic factors or non-living things. For example, soil, water,
air, minerals, etc.




GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 15

ii. Artificial/man-made things
Those things which are made by human beings are called artificial or man-made things.
For example, roads, buildings, schools, hospitals, bridges, canals, airports, etc.

b. Biological aspect
Biological aspect includes the living things in the environment. For example, plants,
animals, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, micro-organisms, etc. These all are very
important for making balance in the environment.


c. Socio-cultural aspect
Socio-cultural aspect includes social traditions, cultural activities and religious practices
which have been made by our ancestors utilizing their valuable time and skills. All of them
are directly and indirectly related with environment. People need fruits, flowers, cereals,
water, plants, animals, birds, etc. during various social traditions, cultural activities and
religious practices. After all, all of them are part of the environment.



1.6 Inter-Relationship Between Different Aspects of Health,
Population and Environment Education

Health, population and environment education are inter-related and inter dependent
on one another. We must have knowledge and understanding about them. If we lack
knowledge on any one of them, the rest of others become incomplete. For example,
people like to live in the places having fresh air, supply of drinking water, etc. Clean
environment makes the life of people healthier. Due to population growth, there is
increase in environment degradation, increase of pollution, spreading of diseases and
many other environmental problems. Likewise, it is only the human beings who can use
the resources in environment in sustainable way and manage them properly. That is how,
health, population and environment are inter-related with each other.
We can show the inter-relationship between health, population and environment
education through the following chart:


Health Education Physical Aspect Population Education



Biological Science & Socio-Cultural Economic Psychological Political
Aspect Technological aspect Aspect Aspect Aspect Aspect



Environment Education






16 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

a. Physical aspect
Physical aspect includes the natural and artificial
things present in environment. They are most
essential for proper growth, development and
survival of human beings. The presence of physical
aspect supports in the existence of human life.
Physical aspect is related with health and population.
For example, people like to live in such places which
have fresh air, clean environment, cultivable land,
drinking water, etc. Clean environment makes people Fig: 8
healthy. Availability of cultivable land supports in River
growing different crops in order to maintain health.
When people randomly use natural resources, there is degradation of environment which
in turn causes spreading of diseases and many other problems to people.


b. Biological aspect

Biological aspect includes the living beings like plants,
animals, birds, insects, human beings, etc. They are
also essential for proper growth, development and
survival of human beings. They help to make balance
in the environment. People get food from varieties of
plants and animals. Various crops like rice, wheat,
maize, barley, etc. and various fruits and wide range
of vegetables are the chief food items for human
beings. Different animals and birds provide meat, Fig: 9
egg, milk and milk products for people. Consumption Forest
of all of them appropriately maintain health of people.
Similarly, various types of plants, animals and their parts are used as raw materials for
different industries.

c. Socio-cultural aspect

Socio-cultural aspect includes the social traditions,
cultural activities and religious practices made by
our ancestors utilizing their valuable skill and time.
Those traditions, cultural activities and religious
practices are related with health, population and
environment. People need fruits, flowers, cereals,
plants, animals, birds, water, etc. during various
traditions, functions, ceremonies, festivals, etc. All of
them are part of environment. During the festivals Fig: 10
and functions, people organize parties and feasts.
People need varieties of food items in such occasions. Praying
But, people discharge the food stuff and garbages here and there in the surroundings after
such occasions. As a result, there is increase of air, water and land pollution, spreading
GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 17

of diseases etc. Sometimes, people over consume the food substances during feasts and
parties and suffer from various health problems.

d. Economic aspect

Economic aspect is related with the job opportunities
and income generation. The economic condition of
people seriously affects their health and environment.
Due to poverty, people misuse the resources in
environment which leads towards deforestation,
increase of pollution, spreading of diseases,
occurrence of natural calamities, environment
degradation. Similarly, poor people cannot afford
nutritious food and suffer from various diseases Fig: 11
very often. Moreover, they cannot treat the diseases Cutting tree
properly and suffer a lot.

e. Science and technological aspect

Science and technological aspect is related with
development of science and technology. Due to
development of science and technology, there
has been improvement in health sector, invention
of medicines, control over diseases, extension of
life expectancy, improvement in communication,
invention of equipments, development of technologies
etc. They have made massive change in health
sector, environmental conservation as well as for the Fig: 12
population. Similarly, negative use of science and Nuclear test
technology has developed nuclear weapons, chemical
weapons, biological weapons, missiles, launchers, etc. Use of missiles, launchers, etc. in
wars kills many people. Use of chemical and biological
weapons has serious health impacts on people. Above
all, use of the nuclear weapons destroys the entire
environment.

f. Political aspect

Political aspect is related with the development
of rules and regulations at the government and Fig: 13
administrative level. Actually, political parties form Speech
the government and rule the nation. Hence, all the
political parties and political leaders should be responsible enough for the formulation
of rules and regulations to control population, to produce healthy manpower, to develop
health services as well as for the conservation of resources in environment.


18 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

g. Psychological aspect
Psychological aspect is related with the attitudes,
feelings, perceptions and thinking of people. Every
individual should have strong determination and
commitment to maintain health, to control population
as well as sustainable use of resources and their
effective management. If people respect nature, they
develop the habit of utilizing the natural resources
properly. If they think about small family size, the
population growth will be controlled. If people follow Fig: 14
healthy rules and practice healthy behaviours, they Cleaning environment
can maintain good health.

Activity: 1

Discuss in a group regarding following questions.
a. What are the problems on health matters that can be solved by health education?
b. What are the problems on population matters that can be solved by population
education?
c. What are the problems on environment that can be solved by environment
education?

Summary

1. Health is a state of complete physical, mental, social and spiritual well being and
not merely the absence of any disease or infirmities.
2. Health education can be defined as an educational process through which
individuals gain knowledge, skills and understanding about health matters in
order to modify superstitious and traditional beliefs on health matter so as to gain
quality of life.
3. An educational process which provides us knowledge, ideas and understanding on
maintenance of personal hygiene, sanitation, cleanliness, management of wastes,
need of clean and safe water, importance of balanced diet, control of diseases and
pollution, etc. is called health education.
4. An educational process by which individuals gain knowledge, skills and understanding
on population and population matters so that they can bring change in their attitudes
and behaviours towards population matters is called population education.
5. Environment is the sum total of all the external conditions and their influences on
the development cycle of biotic elements.
6. Environment Education is a process of recognizing values and clarifying concepts
in order to develop skills and attitudes necessary to understand and appreciate the
inter-relationship of a man, his culture and his biophysical surroundings.




GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 19

7. An educational process by which people gain knowledge, skills and understanding
on environment and environment matters so that they can bring change in their
attitudes and behaviours for sustainable use and conservation of resources in
environment is called environment education.
8. The area or place from where we gain knowledge about health and health related
matters is known as scope of health education.
9. Community involves the gathering of people in assemblies, factories, industries,
festivals, ceremonies, conferences, organizations, etc.
10. People gain knowledge about health matters from different subjects like physics,
chemistry, biology, medicine, psychology, home science, health and physical
education, sociology, anthropology, etc.
11. The subject matters or contents related to population and population matters is
called scope of population education.
12. Demography is the scientific, mathematical and statistical study of population in
reference to population size, structure, density, composition, distribution, etc.
13. Those factors which determine and are responsible for change of population are
called as determinants of population change. Birth, death and migration are the
major determinants of population change.
14. People need to make planning for various things which play an important role for
happiness and satisfaction in their life.
15. The subject matters or contents related to environment and environment matters is
called scope of environment education.
16. Socio-cultural aspect includes the social traditions, cultural activities and religious
practices made by our ancestors utilizing their valuable skill and time.
17. Economic aspect is related with the job opportunities and income generation.
18. Science and technological aspect is related with development of science and
technology.
19. Political aspect is related with the development of rules and regulations at the
government and administrative level.
20. Psychological aspect is related with the attitudes, feeling, perceptions and thinking
of people.



Exercise


A. Give very short answer to the following questions.
1. Define health according to WHO.
2. What is physical well being?
3. What is mental well being?

4. What is social well being?
5. Mention any two characteristics of a healthy person.
20 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

6. How does cheerfulness make us healthy?
7. How does self discipline make us healthy?
8. How is home science related with health education?

9. How are physics and chemistry related with health education?
10. Give any two examples of biological aspect.
11. What are the socio-cultural aspects of environment?

12. Write the name of any one area of health education under social setting.
13. Define demography.
14. What is environment?


B. Give short answer to the following questions.
1. Why is the definition of health given by WHO criticized?
2. Define health education. Why do we need it?

3. What are the health related things you learn from your parents?
4. “Health education helps to modify superstitious beliefs on health matters.”
Justify this statement.
5. What is scope of health education? How does school help in gaining health
education?

6. How do home and community provide health education?
7. Define population education. Why do we need it?
8. “Population education is a multi-dimensional subject.” Justify this statement.

9. How is human sexuality and reproduction related with population education?
10. Define environment education. Why do we need it?
11. “Clean and healthy environment makes our life healthier.” Justify this statement.


C. Give long answer to the following questions.
1. What is scope of population education? Explain briefly about the scope of
population education.
2. How are health, population and environment education inter-related with each
other? Elaborate briefly with a chart.
3. What is health education? Explain the scope of health education.
4. What is environment education? Explain the scope of environment education.






GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 21

UNIT
2 Demography and Population



Change




Estimated Teaching Periods: 17



Learning Outcomes
Learning Objectives
After completing the study of this unit, students will be able to:
i. introduce demography.
ii. explain the sources of population data.
iii. identify the determinants of population change.
iv. state and explain the factors affecting death.


Course Outline


2.1 Introduction to Demography
2.2 Sources of Population Data
2.3 Determinants of Population Change
2.4 Areas Affected by Migration



Glossary

demography : the study of changes (such as the number of births, deaths, marriages and
illness) that occur over a period of time in human populations
population : the whole number of people or inhabitants in a country or region
migration : to move from one country or place to live or work in another
mortality : the number of deaths that occur in a particular time or place
census : the official process of counting the number of people in a country, city or
town and collecting information about them
industrialize : to build and operate factories and businesses in a city, region, country, etc.
divorce : the ending of a marriage by a legal process
infant : a child in the first period of life
tsunami : a very high, large wave in the ocean that is usually caused by an earthquake
under the sea and can cause great destruction when it reaches land




22 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

2.1 Introduction to Demography
The word ‘demography’ is made up of two Greek words ‘Demos’ and ‘Graphien’ in which
‘Demos’ means ‘People or Population’ and ‘ ’ means ‘study’. The literal meaning
of ‘demography’ is to study population. The term ‘demography’ was first coined by
the scholar of Belgium, Archelle Guillarad in 1855 A.D. in his book ‘Comparative
Demography’. Demography studies population and population change. It studies about
birth, death, marriage and migration. It gives knowledge on population size, structure,
density, distribution, composition, pyramid, etc. In order to study about population and
population aspects, demographers use mathematical and statistical tools. Demography
shows the real picture of the society. It clarifies the population situation, the impacts
of birth, deaths and migration on socio – economic and political aspects. Hence, the
demographic data are useful in understanding various social systems and for establishing
public policy in the area of education, housing, unemployment, etc. In short, demography
is scientific, mathematical and statistical study of population in reference to population
size, structure, density, distribution, composition, and other aspects of population.
Demography can be studied under two categories:


i. Formal demography
When we study demography in a narrow sense, it is called formal demography. It deals
with quantitative aspect, i.e. mathematical measurement and analysis of population
components. It refers to the population size, structure, distribution, composition, etc.
The UN multilingual demographic dictionary has defined formal demography as the
scientific study of human populations primarily with respect to their size, their structure
and their development. Similarly, according to Locus (1987 AD), Demography is a science
dealing with marriage, birth, death and migration of human population. It also involves
the size, geographical distribution and composition of the population and how these
change over time.


ii. Social demography
When we study demography in a broad sense, it is called social demography. It denotes
the population study. It always shows the relationship between social, economic, cultural
and biological processes influencing a population. In social demography, subject matters
of biology, psychology, medical science along with formal demography are studied. So,
it is also known as multidisciplinary subject. Social demography explains the issues of
population studies by relating with social and economic aspects. According to Shryok
and Siegel (1976 AD), social demography or population study is concerned not only with
population variables, e.g. fertility, mortality and migration but also with relationship
between population changes and other variables like social, economic, political, biological,
genetic, geographical, etc. Social demography deals with the relationship between
population changes and other aspects like social, economic, political and geographical
aspects.


GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 23

2.2 Sources of Population Data

Population data
The data on population and population matters are called population data. They are
related with birth, death, migration, population size, structure, density, composition, etc.
They are very important for the government to launch various development plannings as
well as for the study of real picture of the society.
There are two major sources of population data: They are given below:

A. Primary Sources
B. Secondary Sources
Sources of Population Data


Primary Sources Secondary Sources

- Census - Books
- Magazines
- Vital Registration System
- Journals
- Administrative Records - Newspapers
- Monographs
- Sample Surveys
- Statistical Year Book
- Research Reports
A. Primary sources
Those sources from where primary data are collected are called as primary sources of
population data. Primary sources include the following sources:
a. Census

b. Vital Registration System
c. Administrative Records
d. Sample surveys


Primary data Fig: 1
The data which are collected by the government or any other organizations by means of
questionnaire or interview method are called primary data. They are also called first hand
data.

B. Secondary sources
The sources from where secondary data are collected are called secondary sources of
population data. Some examples of secondary sources of population data are books,
magazines, journals, newspaper, etc.



24 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

Secondary data
The data which are collected from other sources than the primary sources of data are
called secondary data. They are also called second hand data.
The sources of primary data are explained below.


i. Census
Census is the major source of population data. It is the
process of counting the population of a particular place
at a time. It provides information on various aspects of
population like age, caste, sex, language, marital status,
employment, religion as well as other social, economic
and demographic characteristics of people. In census,
total number of households, and various other important
events are also enumerated. It is conducted in every 10
years interval in many countries in the world and in Fig: 2
every 5 years interval in the developed countries.
According to United Nations Multilingual Demographic Dictionary, census can be defined
as, “The total process of collecting, compiling, analyzing, evaluating and publishing
demographic, economic and social data which includes all the information pertaining to
the people in a country or in a well defined part of a country.”


Historical development of census
Census was conducted in the world in the ancient time as well. The first ancient census
was conducted in world in Bolivia in 4000 B.C. It was conducted in China in 3000 B.C, in
Egypt in 2500 B.C., in India during the time of emperor Ashok in 330 B.C. The intention of
census in ancient time was to count the number of household and population either for
collecting tax or recruiting army for the state.

The modern census was first started in New France
and Acadia in 1665 A.D. Later on, it was conducted
in United Sates of America in 1670 A.D, in Britain
in 1801 A.D., in India in 1872 A.D. and in Nepal in
1911 A.D. or 1968 B.S. during the time of Rana prime
minister, Chandra Shamsher. Since then, census is
conducted in every 10 years interval in Nepal. The
early censuses from 1st till 4th census (1911, 1920,
1930, 1941 A.D) were not regarded as scientific Fig: 3
censuses because there was no use of modern tools, techniques and methodologies. In
1952 A.D. and 1954 A.D., census was conducted separately in Nepal by following modern
concept of census. It was conducted in the eastern part of Nepal in 1952 A.D. and the
western part of Nepal in 1954 A.D. It was regarded as the first scientific census conducted
in Nepal. However, all the requirements of modern census were fulfilled since 1961 A.D.
onwards. Since then, the censuses conducted in Nepal were based on modern approach.
The latest census was conducted in Nepal in 2011 A.D. i.e. 2068 B.S.

GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 25

In the context of Nepal, census is conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).
Initially, the government declares several days or week as census period. It makes an
appeal to people to remain in their home during the census time so that the enumerators
can meet them. The enumerators (government officers, school teachers, volunteers, etc.)
visit particular locality and visit each and every household with a set of questionnaire.
Generally, they collect the information on personal characteristics like age, sex, caste,
language, education, martial status, family size, religion, etc., the economic characteristics
like job, income, expenditure, source of income, saving, etc., the geographical
characteristics like place of birth, place of present residence, place of migration, etc. Later
on, the enumerators submit the questionnaires with information in concerned Chief
District Officer (CDO) office from where they are transferred to CBS office. In CBS office,
a team of demographers, mathematicians, statisticians and other experts unite together
for compiling, analyzing and evaluating the population data. Finally, CBS office publishes
the report on census after some period.

Census is very important for us. It provides the population data for the government to plan
and launch different development plannings. Demographers use census data to project
future population. It shows the real picture of a society. It supports for the demarcation of
electoral constituencies. It facilitates for social and economic development of a nation. But
census is very lengthy method. It consumes more man power and more investment. It is
difficult to manage. The census data may provide wrong measurement if the enumerators
are not well trained and qualified.


Types of census
There are three types of census. They are explained below:
a. Defacto method

The method in which people are counted by means of temporary and permanent living
is called defacto method. It is conducted at day/night and conducted only one day. The
government declares a particular day as census day and makes an appeal to people to
remain in their home at night so that the enumerators can meet them. In this method,
those whoever spend night at home during census time are counted. Hence, the visitors,
guests, along with the residents are counted in this method. But people travelling by bus,
train, aeroplane, etc. and those whoever are not present in home during census time are
not counted. This method requires more manpower or enumerators to conduct census
as it is conducted in a single day. It is a traditional method and not practiced nowadays.

b. Dejure method
The method in which people are counted on the basis of their permanent living is called
dejure method. It is the modern method of census. It is conducted during the day time.
The government declares several days or week as census period and makes an appeal
to people to remain in their home during the census time so that the enumerators can
meet them. It is regarded as scientific method. Tourists as well as foreigners working
in international agencies are not counted in this method. This method is practised
throughout the whole world.



26 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

c. Modified dejure method
The modified form of dejure method is called modified dejure method. This method
is developed and practised by demographers so as to address the drawbacks of dejure
method. In this method, people are counted based on their usual living. Usually, people
living in a particular place for at least 6 months are counted in this method. Special
arrangement is made to count prisoners, armed forces in barracks, beggars, homeless
people, sages, old people in old age homes, etc. in this method. This method is common
throughout the world including Nepal.

Difference between defacto and dejure method

Defacto method Dejure method
1. The method in which people are 1. The method in which people are
counted based on their permanent counted based on their permanent
and temporary living is called living is called dejure method.
defacto method.
2. It is conducted during the night time. 2. It s conducted during the day time.
3. It is conducted for a single day. 3. Several days or weeks are considered
as census period in this method.
4. The guests and visitors are also 4. The tourists and foreigners are not
counted in this method. counted in this method.
5. More enumerators are required in 5. Comparatively less enumerators are
this method. required in this method.
6. Countries having geographical 6. Any country can use this method.
difficulty cannot use this method.
7. It is a traditional method. 7. It s a modern method.
8. It is not practised nowadays. 8. It is practised through out the world.

ii. Vital registration system

The registration of vital events in our life like birth,
death, migration, marriage, divorce, etc. is called vital
registration.
There is no exact data about starting of vital
registration system in the world. In 16 century,
th
people in Britain used to register their birth, death,
marriage, etc. in the church. In 1563 A.D., there used
to be registration of vital events in catholic church
in Rome. The modern vital registration started first
in Sweden in 1608 A.D. Later on, it was followed by
Finland, Norway, Denmark, Canada and other parts
of world.
In the context of Nepal, there was promulgation of
vital registration act in 2019 B.S., i.e. 1962 A.D. Central Fig: 4

GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 27

Bureau of Statistics (CBS) conducted a pilot project on vital registration in Kathmandu
valley in 2021 B.S., i.e. 1964 A.D. However, it took long time to start formal vital registration
in Nepal. In 2033 B.S., i.e. 1976 A.D, the office of Registrar General was established under
the Ministry of Home and Panchayat. Initially, vital registration started only in 10 districts
in Nepal in 2035 B.S., i.e. 1978 A.D. It started in all the districts of Nepal only from 1st
Baisakh, 2047 B.S.
Vital registration is done in the concerned municipality or village council office. People
need to fill in forms for the registration of vital events. Then, the local registrar provides
event registration certificates, i.e. birth certificate, death certificate, marriage certificate
and migration certificate. These certificates are very important for various legal and
administrative purposes. Birth certificate is mandatory to get student admitted in school,
to receive citizenship card, to appear in district level examination in school, etc. Death
certificate is required to transfer parental properties, to claim insurance policies, bank
deposits, etc. Marriage certificate is needed to apply visa as dependent to go abroad, to
be eligible legally for husband’s properties. Migration certificate is required to get certain
benefits provided at the local level or by the government.
Vital registration is very important for the nation. It provides information about social
and demographic characteristics of people. It is reliable and valid source of population
data. It shows the population situation. It helps the policy makers, economists, politicians
and others to perform social activities. Moreover, it provides important information for
the government to launch different development plannings.


iii. Administrative records
Administrative records are the records kept by the
governmental and non-governmental organizations
regarding their properties, financial activities, legal
documents as well as day to day activities at the
administrative level. For example, school keeps the
record of present and past students, teaching and non–
teaching staff, fees record of students, salary payment
of staff, etc. Hospital keeps the record of patients
and their treatment papers. Similarly, voters list,
citizenship records, telephone directory, membership
of certain organizations, etc. are also the examples of Fig: 5
administrative records.

Administrative records are kept by the offices for their official use. They are very helpful
for the researchers, planners, policy makers and administrators. The country can achieve
important information for social and economic development from the administrative
records. The number of students enrolled in school, the dropouts, the passed and failure
students can be known from administrative records which can support the government
for arranging, colleges, teachers and other staffs. The number of patients, types of
diseases and necessary health services can be known from hospital records by which the



28 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

government can make special arrangement in health sector. Similarly, it is helpful to know
about economically active population, old people above 60 years from citizenship records
and voters list. The government can adopt economic plan and policy from such data.
The records of passport issues by government bodies can support government to guess
foreign visit or migration of people.

iv. Sample survey

Sample survey is the method of collecting information on population by taking some
families or group of people as a sample. In this method, questionnaires are prepared
and distributed among the samples. Later on, data are collected, analyzed, evaluated and
finally generalized for the entire population.
Sample survey was first started in Britain in 19 century. In Afghanistan, direct census
th
cannot be conducted. So, sample survey is used to collect information about population
in Afghanistan nowadays. In the context of Nepal, sample survey was conducted first in
1966 AD as the health survey. However, it was used to collect population data in 1974/75
A.D. 1975/76 A.D. and 1977/78 A.D.
Sample survey is regarded as mini census. When we have to conduct special research and
necessary data are not collected in census, sample survey can be used. It is not expensive
and easy to use. Less manpower can collect detail and quality information as they can spend
more time in interview. However, sample survey presents data of limited people which
may not reflect the exact information of entire population while generalizing it. Similarly,
there are chances of collecting inaccurate data if the enumerators are not well trained.





2.3 Determinants of Population Change
Those factors which determine the population and are responsible for change of
population are called determinants of population change. Birth, death and migration
are the determinants of population change. These all affect the population in a place.
Actually, population never remains constant in a place. It keeps on changing time and
again. Sometimes, the population is increased in a place and sometimes, it is decreased.
Birth and death take place very often in a place. People keep on migrating from place to
place as well.
Birth and death are natural factors of population change. People have no control over
birth. Though the gestation period in human beings lasts for 9 months, we cannot exactly
say about the time of birth of the child. Once a person is born, no one is immortal in the
world. Sooner or later, everyone has to die. But we cannot say when will a person die.
Death is not in our hand. Migration is the artificial factor of population change. People
migrate from place to place due to several reasons. It depends upon individual wish
whether to change a place or not.
We can explain the determinants of population change by means of flow model of
population change.



GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 29

Table No.1: Flow model on population change
Increase Decrease
1. Birth 1. Death
2. Migration 2. Migration
3. In– migration (National migration) 3. Out–migration (National migration)
4. International migration (Immigration) 4. International migration (Emigration)
Birth and migration increase Death and migration decrease
5. 5.
population in a place population in a place
The above table on flow model on population change explains about the increase and
decrease of population in a place. Birth and migration increase population in a place.
When there is birth of a child in a family, it increases the number of family members. When
some people from other places come to live in our place, that type of internal migration
within the same country increases population. Similarly, when some people from other
country migrate to our country, that type of international migration called immigration
also increases population. Death and migration decrease population in a place. When a
person dies, there is decrease of family members. Similarly, when some people from our
place migrate to other places, that type of external migration within the same country
decreases population. Likewise, when people from our country migrate to other countries,
that type of international migration called emigration decreases population in a place.

Activity: 1
Prepare a list regarding recent birth, death and migration in your locality and present
in your class.


Factors affecting birth
Birth is the natural factor of population change. There is increase of population with the
birth of children. There are various factors affecting birth which are discussed below:

a. Social factors
Those factors which are related with social traditions, cultural activities and religious
practices in our day to day life are called social factors. People are highly guided by many
social traditions and social values. Though they are false, people cannot strongly avoid
them. Such factors support in bearing more children. There are various social factors
affecting birth. They are explained below:

i. Illiteracy
Many people are illiterate in our context. The illiterate
people are ignorant about the effects of population
growth as well as ways to control it. Moreover, they
are superstitious and believe on superstitious beliefs.
They consider children as the gift of god. They think
they need to bear as many children as they can Fig: 6
30 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

considering them as the gift of god. Similarly, they do not like to use contraceptive devices
to control population. They consider using contraceptive devices as a sin or committing
a crime. Hence, they do not adopt any efforts to control population and keep on bearing
children. As a result, there is increase of birth.

ii. Importance of son
In our society, people give priority for a son. People need to bear a son child in a family.
They think son is required to transfer parental properties, to continue the generation, to
complete all the funeral rites, to provide fire on the pyre of dead body of parents, to offer
“Pinda Paani” during ‘Shradda’ after the death of parents. Hence, they think there should
be at least one son in the family. Ultimately, they keep on bearing more and more number
of daughters in the hope of bearing a son child. As a result, there is increase of birth.

iii. Early marriage
Generally, in the rural areas, people like to get their
children married at the young age. Many grand
parents and parents want to get their grand daughters
or daughters married before starting of menstruation
cycle. They say they will have spiritual satisfaction by
doing so. Due to early marriage, there is extension in
fertility period in females and there is high chance of
bearing more children by them. If a female gets married
at the age of 15, she will have at least 6/7 children in next
20 years by the time she becomes 35/36 years of age. Fig: 7
Hence, the tradition of early marriage leads towards
increase of birth.

iv. Universality of marriage/ marriage as compulsory
Marriage is compulsory in our society. Sooner or later, everyone likes to get married. People
think of being happy by getting married. The society looks upon a person in negative way
if he/she does not get married. People are thought not to get place in heaven without
marriage. Once people get married, they like to become parents as soon as possible. When
they bear children, they feel entire satisfaction. In case if the married couple does not bear
children within (3–4) years of marriage, there starts back biting from family members,
friends, relatives, neighbours, etc. Hence, people want to bear children after marriage. As
a result, there is increase of birth and increase of population.

v. Family structure
The type of family in which people are living also affects the birth of children. Generally,
in joint family, people of 3-4 generation live in the same house. People have the concept
that larger the family easier the task. In that joint family, it becomes easier to bring up
children. It is not compulsory for the parents to look after their children by themselves in
joint family. Some other family members can take care of them easily. Hence, the married
couples are encouraged to bear more children in joint family. But in the nuclear family,
there is presence of parents and children only. In that family, it becomes very difficult to
GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 31

bring up children. Hence, the parents are not likely to bear more children in a nuclear
family.












Fig: 8
Joint family Nuclear family

vi. High infant mortality rate
There is no availability of health services in all the parts of nation. Generally, in the rural
areas, there is lack of health services and health manpower. Hence, there is increase in
infant mortality rate. According to 2011 A.D. census, infant mortality rate of Nepal is 48
per 1000. Every parent wants some children survive and remain with them throughout
their life. But, due to high infant mortality rate, parents are not sure of survival of all the
children they give birth. So, they tend to give birth to more number of children thinking
that even if some children die, some will definitely survive and remain with them for the
rest of their life. As a result, there is increase of birth and increase of population.

vii. Status of women
In our context, more than 50% of the total population
is covered by females. But, the status of females is not
better. They are highly dominated by males. They are
not given opportunities for education, empowerment
and other activities. They are simply thought to
remain in home, bear children, take care of family
members, do the household activities, etc. They are
neither given opportunities for planning of family nor Fig: 9
decision making. Hence, the uneducated women lack
knowledge about effects of population growth as well as ways to control it. Moreover, they
encourage their husbands for polygamy if they do not bear son child even after bearing
more daughters. As a result, there is increase of population.

Activity: 2

Despite the legal restriction and awareness generation, early marriage is not reduced in
Nepal.

Make a group, discuss among each other with reasons and present in the class for the
following topics:
a. Is it decreased in rural areas?

b. Is it decreased in urban areas?
32 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

Activity: 3

“The occupational status of people affects the increase or decrease of population.”

Conduct a sample survey in your locality with a questionnaire to show relation of
occupation and size of family. Use the following headings;
age, sex, caste, education, occupation, size of family, number of children


b. Economic factors
Those factors which are related with jobs and income generation are called economic
factors. They are regarded as important factors affecting birth. There are various economic
factors affecting birth. Some of them are as follows:


i. Poverty
More than 25 % of total population in Nepal is under
poverty line. They have difficulty to manage their
daily needs and requirements. They cannot afford
education, health services and other facilities. But,
they tend to give birth to more children. Actually, they
consider their children as source of income and want
to bear more children. They think that when they have
more children, the children will grow up, get involved
into some jobs, start generating income, fulfill their Fig: 10
needs easily and they can have better life in future.
Hence, they bear more children which increases population growth.

ii. Unemployment
There is lack of job opportunities for majority of rapidly
growing population in the developing countries.
Unemployment has become one of the problems there.
Unemployment supports in increasing population in
a place. As people are unemployed, they remain idle
in home. They have nothing else to do in home. When
people have more free time in home, there is high
chance of getting involved in sexual intercourse. As a Fig: 11
result, the fertility of females is increased and they bear more children.

iii. Occupational status
The profession in which people are involved affects
the birth of children. Generally, people involved in
agriculture profession want to give birth to more
children. They want to use their children in various
household activities. In agriculture profession, people
need more manpower. When people bear more
children, they can utilize them as free and honest Fig: 12
GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 33

labourers to work in the field. They cannot get any other labourers as honest as their
children and in free. Hence, they bear more children. But, people involved in other
occupation like services, business, teaching, etc. remain busy and have less time to bring
up their children. Therefore, they want to bear less children.

iv. Insurance for future
People want to bear many children for their security and good life during the old age.
People cannot work during old age. They need someone to take care of them. They have
to depend on their children. People think that when they bear more children, even if
many children do not take care of them, at least one or two will take care of them in the
old age. Due to this type of thinking, people want to bear more children. Ultimately, there
is increase of population growth.

c. Environmental factors
Those factors which are related with environment and environment matters, they are
called environment factors. Climate is one of the environmental factors. The climatic
condition of a place affects the birth of children. Generally, females in hot places become
mature faster and have early starting of menstruation than the females in cold places. As
a result, there is extension of fertility period in females in hot places. Hence, females in
hot places give birth to more children than the females in cold places. In our context, terai
region has hot climate and mountain region has cold climate. The females in terai region
become mature faster, have early development of reproductive organs and early starting
of menstruation cycle than the females in mountain region. Hence, it is seen that females
in terai region give birth to more children than the females in mountain region.
Factors affecting death
Death is the natural factor of population change. Death in inevitable part of our life. It
decreases the population in a place. According to WHO, death can be defined as, “The
permanent disappearance of all the evidences of life.” People in Nepal are surviving
more. Their life expectancy has been extended a lot in comparison to last (20 – 30) years. It
is actually due to availability of health services, health manpower, improvement in health
sector, invention of medicines, control of diseases, awareness on health education, etc.
There are various factors affecting death. They are described below:

a. Social factors

i. Illiteracy
More and more people are illiterate in our context.
The illiterate people are ignorant about importance of
health education, practice of health rules, maintenance
of personal hygiene, sanitation, cleanliness, importance
of balanced diet, etc. Moreover, they are superstitious
and believe on various unscientific and traditional
matters. Whenever they suffer from any disease or
have health problems, they think that is caused due to
Fig: 13
34 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

unseen matters, ghosts or witches. Hence, they take help from the witch doctors or dhami
jhakris rather than going to the medical people or medical centers. While taking help from
the witch doctors, even the curable disease can become incurable and ultimately people
die.

ii. Spreading of diseases
People die due to suffering from various diseases.
People very often suffer from various types of
communicable diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery,
cholera, jaundice, typhoid, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/
AIDS, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, encephalitis, swine flu,
ebola, bird flu, etc. Similarly, people suffer from non–
communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart Fig: 14
disease, asthma, kidney problems, etc. Nowadays,
there is development of medical science, invention of medicines, vaccines and control over
many communicable diseases. So, some people die when they suffer from communicable
diseases. But scientists are not able to develop effective treatment methods and medicines
to control non–communicable diseases. Hence, many people die suffering from non–
communicable diseases.

iii. Lack of health services
Health services are not equally distributed in all
the parts of nation. Generally, there is lack of health
services in the rural areas in our context. In many
places, people have to walk a long distance even to
reach the nearest health center. There is acute shortage
of health manpower and medicines. In many cases,
people die on the way towards health centres. Even
if people reach the health centres, there is no presence Fig: 15
of health manpower as well as lack of medicines and
non functioning of medical equipments. Hence, people die due to lack of health services
as well as lack of health treatments and medicines.

b. Economic factors

There are various economic factors affecting death. Some are explained below:

i. Poverty
In Nepal, more than 25% of people are under poverty
line. They have difficulty to manage minimum basic
requirements. They have less or no employment
opportunities. They do not have any other source of
income. The poor people cannot afford better nutrition,
health care services, sanitation, drinking water, shelter
and other requirements. Due to inadequate supply of
basic needs, poor people have low living standard and Fig: 16
GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 35

very often they suffer from several diseases. Whenever they suffer from any diseases,
they cannot afford expensive health services. Likewise, they have difficulty to afford the
required medicines as well. As a result, many people die due to poverty.

iii. Lack of nutritious food
Everyone needs to have nutritious food for maintaining
their health and proper functioning of body systems
and organs. People must consume sufficient amount
of meat, eggs, milk and milk products, rice, pulses,
fruits, vegetables, etc. in order to get necessary
proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals
in our body. Carbohydrates and fats give us heat and
energy. Proteins maintain growth and development of
cells. Vitamins protect us from diseases and minerals Fig: 17
regulate body activities. When people lack nutritious
food, there is no proper functioning of body systems and organs. Moreover, people suffer
from malnutrition and various other diseases. As a result, people die suffering from
different diseases.


c. Environmental factors
There are various environmental factors affecting death. Some are described below:

i. Climate
The climatic condition of a place affects the death of people. Generally, in the hot places,
people become mature faster and older sooner in comparison to people in cold places.
Even there is rapid increase of insects, germs and micro–organisms in hot places than in
cold places. There is spreading of many insect borne diseases like malaria, encephalitis,
filariasis, dangue, diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, etc. in hot places. As a result, there is more
death of people in hot places than in cold places.


ii. Occurrence of natural calamities
Increased population has caused deforestation,
haphazard use of resources and environment
degradation. Due to various human activities, there
is frequent occurrence of natural calamities like
flood, landslide, soil erosion etc. Similarly, there
is occurrence of natural disasters like earthquake,
volcanic eruptions, cyclones, hurricanes, tsunami,
etc. During the occurrence of such disasters, there is
death of several people along with the destruction of Fig: 18
their properties. There was death of more than 10000
people in major earthquake in 2072 B.S. in Nepal. More than 20000 people died and many
more missing in tsunami in Japan in 2012 A.D. Every year, there is death of many people
in Nepal due to flood and landslide.


36 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

Factors Affecting Migration
Migration is one of the major factors affecting population. It is the artificial factor of
population change which causes increase or decrease of population. People keep on
moving from one place to another place, within the same country. Such type of internal
migration changes population in a place but it does not change the population of a country.
People from mountain region and hilly region migrate to big cities or Terai region in Nepal.
There is decrease of population in mountain and hilly region and increase of population
in big cities and Terai region. But, the population of Nepal is not changed. Similarly, some
people migrate to foreign countries as well. Some people from our country migrate to
foreign countries. That type of international emigration called emigration causes decrease
of population in our country. Likewise, some people from other countries migrate to our
country. That type of international migration called immigration increases population in
our country.
Migration is the movement of people from one place to another place either temporarily
or permanently due to various reasons. Generally people migrate due to pull and push
factors.


Pull factors
Those factors which attract people to come and live in
a particular place are called pull factors. For example,
availability of facilities like health services, education,
transportation, communication, drinking water,
electricity, sanitation, presence of cultivable land, fresh
air, favourable climate, opportunity of employment,
maintenance of security, etc. Fig: 19


Push factors
Those factors which force people to change their place
and migrate somewhere else are called push factors.
For example, lack of facilities like health services,
education, transportation, communication, sanitation,
scarcity of drinking water, lack of cultivable land,
fresh air, spreading of disease, increase of pollution,
occurrence of natural calamities, occurrence of war,
occurrence of disasters like earthquake, volcanic
eruptions, forest fire, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami, Fig: 20
extreme harsh climate, etc.

Major causes of migration

a. Social Factors

i. Marriage
In our society, marriage is compulsory. Sooner or later, everyone likes to get married.
Generally, females migrate to their husband’s home after marriage. When a female of
GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 37

a district gets married with a male of another district, there is increase of population
in male’s district whereas decrease of population in female’s district. Similarly, when a
female gets married with a foreigner, she will have international migration. There is
decrease of population in female’s country whereas increase of population in foreigner’s
country.


ii. Educational opportunities
Education is very important in our life. It leads us
from darkness to light. It provides us knowledge and
skills. It helps us to judge what is right and wrong and
supports in taking right and responsible decisions in
life. When people are educated, they have opportunities
for better employment as well. Generally, rural areas
lack schools and college. Many students from rural
areas from different parts of Nepal migrate to either
big cities or Kathmandu for higher education. Every Fig: 21
year many students migrate to foreign countries to
study in various universities. Actually, the students as well as educated people keep on
migrating from one place to another in search of better opportunities.

iii. Availability of facilities
Food, clothes, shelter, health services, education,
transportation, communication, sanitation, drinking
water, electricity, etc. are important parts of our life.
Availability of such facilities makes our life easier
and comfortable. People can have happiness and
improvement of living standard with the availability
of such facilities. Rural areas lack various facilities
like health services, education, transportation,
communication, electricity, entertainment activities, Fig: 22
etc. All those facilities are easily available in urban
areas. The developed foreign nations have availability of many facilities and other
opportunities as well. Hence, people tend to migrate from rural areas to urban areas and
from urban areas to developed foreign countries in search of better facilities.

b. Economic factors


i. Employment opportunity
Everyone needs some sort of job opportunities
to sustain their life. People can have happiness,
fulfillment of desires, maintenance of peace and
prosperity in life with generation of better income.
There is more establishment of offices, industries,
factories, institutions commercial sectors in the urban
areas. People can easily get job opportunities there
Fig: 23
38 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

and generate better income. Hence, the skilled manpower and educated people keep on
migrating from one place to another. The people from rural areas migrate to urban areas
in search of better jobs. Similarly, the government job holders, police personnel, army,
businessmen, laborers etc. keep on migrating from one place to another in regard to their
jobs.


ii. Cultivable land
People need to cultivate various types of crops,
vegetables and fruits to sustain their life. Hence,
people like to migrate in the places having more
cultivable land so that they can cultivate various types
of food and cash crops. Terai region has plain and flat
land. It consists of more cultivable land. The soil in
terai region is very fertile and consists of humus, lime
and phosphorus. People can cultivate wide range of Fig: 24
food and cash crops in terai region. So, people from
mountain and hilly region migrate to terai region in search of cultivable land.

c. Environmental factors

i. Climate
The climatic condition of a place affects the migration of people. People have very hard
life in the harsh climate. People have difficulty to perform day to day activities in cold
places. Mountain region has extremely cold climate. Hence, people from mountain region
migrate to the lower altitude either in hilly region or terai region for few months due to
harsh life. People from mountain region along with herd of animals migrate to lower
altitude during winter season. They remain there for few months but again return to their
place in summer season when the snow starts to melt with an increase of temperature.

ii. Occurrence of natural calamities
With the increase of population, natural resources
in the environment are massively and haphazardly
utilized. As a result, deforestation and environment
degradation are increased. There is frequent
occurrence of natural calamities like flood, landslide,
soil erosion etc. Even the natural disasters like
earthquake, volcanic eruptions, cyclones, tsunami, etc.
also occur in environment. During the occurrence of
such disasters, many people are displaced from their Fig: 25
place and they have to migrate in safe places.



2.4 Areas Affected by Migration

Migration is the movement of people from one place to another. It increases population
in a place where people migrate and decreases population in a place from where they
GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 39

migrate. It affects a lot in both the places in many ways. Various aspects of development
are seriously affected by it. It is seen that people from rural areas migrate to urban areas
and from urban areas to abroad. When people migrate from a place, there is scarcity
of manpower in many sectors which directly affects the economy of that place. When
people migrate in a place, more resources are utilized and many environmental problems
are seen. Moreover, there is serious impact on available facilities and social sectors are
seriously affected. The government has to face various challenges in many sectors with
the migration. Some major aspects affected by migration are described below:
a. Economic aspects

When people migrate from one place to another, there is increase of population in the
place where people migrate but there is scarcity of skilled manpower and laborers in the
place from where people migrate. As a result, there is decrease of manpower in the
industries, factories, agricultural land as well as for conduction of development works.
Decrease in manpower leads towards decrease of production in industries, reduction in
agricultural production as well as slow and ineffective conduction of development works.
Due to less industrial and agricultural production, country has to import the required
things from abroad. As a result, there is serious impact on the economic condition of
entire nation. Even the country is not developed with less conduction of development
works.
Migration increases the number of people in a
place. There is increase of unemployment rate
in a place because all the increased population
do not get job opportunities. Moreover, there
is competition between migrants and the local
people for jobs. Generally, the immigrants are
skilled manpower like carpenters, masons,
welders, electricians, jewelery makers, crafter,
barbers, tailors, plumbers, etc. Those skilled Fig: 26
people work even in low wages which the local
people cannot do. Ultimately, the local people are replaced by them. Above all, they send
the profits, salary and wages to their country which adversely affects the economy of the
host nation.

b. Environmental aspects
Migration has serious impact on environmental aspects. It leads towards increase of
population pressure in a place. There is massive utilization of the resources like forest,
water, soil, minerals, etc. People randomly destroy forest to extend the settlement
areas, cultivable land, to achieve fuel and food and fodder for animals. Destruction of
forest causes either limitation or clearance of habitat of wildlife. People randomly and
excessively utilize chemical fertilizers on land in the hope of producing more food so
as to fulfill the increased demand. Even there is increase of unplanned urbanization
and industrialization. People discharge the wastes from settlement areas and markets
on land. Moreover, the sewage and drainage from industries and settlement areas are
directly joined in water resources. As a result of all of them, there is increase of scarcity of
under ground water, spreading of diseases, rareness of living beings, occurrence of flood,
40 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

landslide, soil erosion, increase in pollution of air, water, land, etc. Above all, there is
increase in environmental problems like global warming, climate change, desertification,
acid rainfall, ozone layer depletion and so on.

















Fig: 27

c. Social aspects
Due to migration, there is increase of population
in a place where they migrate. With the increase
of population, there is increase in demand
of health services, education, transportation,
communication, sanitation, security,
entertainment, etc. But all those facilities
available in a place are not sufficient for all the
increased population. Anyway, people need
those facilities in their life. Availability of such
facilities makes people happy and satisfied. Fig: 28
Lack of such facilities decreases their living
standard. Moreover, their is increase of unhealthy competition among people for the
limited facilities. As a result, there is increase of several social crimes like pickpocketing,
stealing, kidnapping, robberies, etc. Similarly, migration causes gathering of people with
different interest, attitudes, religion,tradition and culture in the same place. This may
sometimes cause quarrels, conflicts and misunderstanding among the people in a place.
This ultimately disturbs the peace, prosperity and harmony in the society.
Summary

1. The word ‘demography’ is made up of two Greek words ‘Demos’ and ‘Graphien’ in
which ‘Demos’ means ‘People or Population’ and ‘Graphien’ means ‘study’.
2. The term ‘demography’ was first coined by the scholar of Belgium, Archelle
Guillarad in 1855 A.D. in his book ‘Comparative Demography’.
3. Demography is a scientific, mathematical and statistical study of population in
reference to population size, structure, density, distribution, composition, and other
aspects of population.
4. When we study demography in narrow sense, it is called formal demography.
5. When we study demography in a broad sense, it is called social demography.
GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 41

6. In social demography, subject matters of biology, psychology, medical science along
with formal demography are studied.
7. The data on population and population matters are called population data.
8. Those sources from where primary data are collected are called primary sources of
population data.
9. The data which are collected by the government or any other organizations by
means of questionnaire or interview method are called primary data.
10. The data which are collected from other sources than the primary sources of data,
are called as secondary data. They are also called as second hand data.
11. The total process of collecting, compiling, analyzing, evaluating and publishing
demographic, economic and social data which includes all the information
pertaining to the people in a country or in a well defined part of a country.
12. The first ancient census was conducted in world in Bolivia in 4000 B.C.
13. The modern census was first started in New France and Acadia in 1665 A.D.
14. In the context of Nepal, census is conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics
(CBS).
15. In CBS office, a team of demographers, mathematicians, statisticians and other
experts unite together for compiling, analyzing and evaluating the population data.
16. The method in which people are counted by means of temporary and permanent
living is called defacto method.
17. The method in which people are counted on the basis of their permanent living is
called dejure method.
18. The registration of vital events in our life like birth, death, migration, marriage,
divorce, etc. is called vital registration.
19. In the context of Nepal, there was promulgation of vital registration act in 2019 B.S.
or 1962 A.D.
20. Administrative records are the records kept by the governmental and non-
governmental organizations regarding their properties, financial activities, legal
documents as well as day to day activities at the administrative level.
21. Sample survey is the method of collecting information on population by taking
some families or group of people as a sample.
22. Those factors which determine the population and are responsible for change of
population are called determinants of population change.
23. Birth and migration increase population in a place. Similarly, death and migration
decrease population in a place.
24. People have the concept that larger the family easier the task. In joint family, it
becomes easier to bring up children.
25. Those factors which are related with jobs and income generation are called economic
factors.
26. Those factors which are related with environment and environment matters are
called environment factors.

42 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

27. According to WHO, death can be defined as, “The permanent disappearance of all
the evidences of life.”
28. Their life expectancy has been extended a lot in comparison to last (20 – 30) years. It
is actually due to availability of health services, healthy manpower, improvement
in health sector, invention of medicines, control of diseases, awareness on health
education, etc.
29. Migration is the movement of people from one place to another place either
temporarily or permanently due to various reasons.
30. Those factors which attract people to come and live in a particular place are called
pull factors.
31. Those factors which force people to change their place and migrate somewhere else
are called push factors.

Exercise


A. Write very short answer to the following questions.
1. Who coined the term ‘demography’ first?
2. What is demography?
3. What is social demography?
4. Mention any two examples of secondary sources of data.
5. When and where was first census conducted in the world?
6. What was the main purpose of ancient census?
7. When and where was the first modern census conducted in world ?
8. When was the first census conducted in Nepal?
9. Which census is regarded as the first scientific census in Nepal ?
10. Mention any two characteristics considered during census.
11. In how many years interval is census conducted in Nepal?
12. Write any one type of census.
13. Which method of census is used to conduct census in Nepal?
14. What is vital registration system?
15. When was the first modern vital registration started in the world?
16. When was the promulgation of vital registration in Nepal?
17. When was vital registration started in all the districts in Nepal?
18. Mention any one use of birth and death certificate.
19. Give any two examples of administrative records.
20. When was sample survey conducted first in Nepal?
21. In which country is sample survey used nowadays?
22. What are the natural and artificial factors of population change?
23. What are pull and push factors?

GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 43

24. What is death?
25. What is migration?


B. Write short answer to the following questions.
1. Explain briefly about historical development of census.
2. Differentiate between Defacto and Dejure method of census.
3. What is vital registration? Write the importance of event registration certificates.
4. Write short notes on administrative records.
5. What are the determinants of population change? Explain briefly about flow
model on population change.
6. How does illiteracy increase and decrease population?
7. How does poverty affect population?
8. How is climate responsible for change of population?
9. How does family structure affect birth?
10. Why do people give birth to more children due to high infant mortality rate?
11. How does migration affect economic aspect?


C. Write long answer to the following questions.
1. What are primary data? Mention the sources of primary data. Explain any two of
them briefly.
2. What is census? Explain briefly about census.
3. What are social factors? Explain briefly about any four social factors affecting
birth.
4. What are social factors affecting death? Explain them briefly.
5. What is migration? What are the factors affecting migration? Explain briefly.
6. How does migration affect social and environmental aspect?


























44 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

UNIT
3 Environment, Population and



Development




Estimated Teaching Periods: 14



Learning Outcomes
Learning Objectives
After completing the study of this unit, students will be able to:
i. explain the inter-relationship between population, environment and development.
ii. introduce infrastructures of development and describe the importance of development
works.
iii. explain the concept of human resource development and describe its importance.
iv. describe challenges and future direction of human resources development.


Course Outline

3.1 Inter-relation Between Environment, Population and Development
3.2 Indicators of Development
3.3 Concept of Human Resource Development
3.4 Importance of Human resource Development
3.5 Process of Human Resource Development
3.6 Challenges and Future Direction of Human Resource Development



Glossary

depletion : to use most or all of (something important), to reduce the amount of
something
remittance : an amount of money that is sent as a payment for something
marginalize : to put or keep (someone) in a powerless or unimportant position within a
society or group
organization : a company, business, club, etc. that is formed for a particular purpose
employment : activity in which one engages or is employed, the act of employing
prosperity : the state of being successful usually by making a lot of money
enmity : a very deep unfriendly feeling
manpower : power available for, or supplied by the physical effort of human beings
development : the act or process of growing or causing something to grow or become
larger or more advanced
GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 45

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,
46 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

minerals are utilized for development works. Due to increase of population, the demands
for facilities are increased and people randomly conduct development works. As a result,
there is increase of pollution and environmental degradation.
As people are inter–related and inter–dependent on environment and development
works, they must play vital role in effective conduction of development works and
conservation of environment. There must be control of population growth. They must
conduct sustainable development works and make efforts for proper management and
conservation of resources in environment.


Concept of development
Development activities include establishment
of schools, hospitals, construction of roads,
buildings, availability of electricity, drinking
water, sanitation, establishment of industries,
etc. These all development activities help in
making the facilities available for people so that
people can have happiness, satisfaction and
improvement of living standard.
According to David Kortein, development can Fig: 2
be defined as, “A process by which the members
of society increase their personal and institutional capabilities to mobilize and manage
resources, to produce sustainable and justly distributed improvement in their quality of
life consistent with their own aspirations.”
According to UNO, development is the fulfillment of desires and aims of public to provide
them the chance of being active by inspiring them.
In general development is positive growth which changes the attitudes of people for
social, economic, mental and cultural aspects. It is the transformation of people’s attitude,
thinking and ideas. Development works help in the gradual change in the present
situation. They make progress in the social, economic and cultural sectors. They provide
food, education, health services, clean drinking water, sanitation, electricity, employment
job opportunity, hygienic housing, security, etc. for human beings. Development works
help in economic progress and improvement of living standard. Without infrastructures
of development, we cannot achieve such progress and changes in various aspects of our
life.


Infrastructure of development


a. Introduction
Infrastructure means the basic frameworks or the underlying foundation of an
organization. Infrastructures make an organization strong, firm and pave way for the
functioning of organization. They are prime requirement of development. They make
development works smooth and support in effective completion of development works.

GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 47

One development activity may be the infrastructure for another and one infrastructure
may affect the another. Roads are the basic infrastructure of development. With the
construction of roads, other infrastructures can be developed easily. With the construction
of roads, there is gradual development of schools, hospitals, bridges, hydro-power
generation, industries, markets, buildings, communication services, etc.













Fig: 3
Hydropower Bridge Airport

All the pre-requisites which include physical social, economic and human resource
without which development activities cannot be conducted are called infrastructures of
development.

b. Types of infrastructures of development
Infrastructures of development can be classified into the following types:


i. Human resource
The skilled, semi-skilled manpower related
to education, health services, communication,
agriculture, industries, science and technology,
law and legislature etc. is called human resource.
For example, doctor, engineer lawyer, chartered
accountant, pilot, scientist, professor, plumber,
electrician, mason, welder, etc. They are most
essential for the conduction of development
activities. Development of human resource makes Fig: 4
the development activities easier.

i. Physical aspects
The road, bridges, canals, schools, hospitals, drainages, buildings, electricity, drinking
water, communication facilities etc. are regarded as physical infrastructures. These
infrastructures help to develop other development activities. Availability of one
infrastructure supports to develop another one.

ii. Social aspects
This aspect includes human rights, education, health services, etc. They should be developed
to run other development activities. For this, people should utilize their knowledge, skills,
capabilities and desire for participating in the conduction of development activities.

48 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9

iv. Economic aspects
It is very important for the development activities. It is required to develop all types of
infrastructures. There should be investment for the conduction of development activities.
It is not possible to conduct the development activities without sufficient budget. A lot
of investment is required for the development of infrastructures. With sufficient budget
allocation, any development activities can be executed successfully.

c. Importance of Development Works
Development works bring positive changes in our life. They bring change in attitudes
and behaviours of people for the social, economic and cultural aspects. The main goal of
development activities is to provide necessary facilities to people. Some of the importance
of development works are as follows:

i. Economic development
Various development activities like construction
of road, hydro-power generation, establishment of
school, hospital, industries, tourism development,
etc. provide job opportunities to many people.
With the availability of job, people can generate
income and fulfill their basic as well as additional
needs. Hence, these activities help in the economic Fig: 5
development of people.


ii. Improvement of living standard
Development activities provide us facilities, help
in the welfare of people and improve the living
standard of people. For example, construction of
roads makes easy movement and transportation of
goods and services. Establishment of school imparts
education and enhances knowledge and skills.
Establishment of hospitals provides better medical Fig: 6
and health care services. Improvement in agriculture increases agricultural production.
Extension of communication facilities makes the world closer. Establishment of industries
provides job opportunities to people. With the availability of all those facilities, people
have gradual improvement of living standard.


iii. Availability of necessary facilities
Food , clothes, shelter, health services, education,
transportation, communication, drinking water,
sanitation, electricity, security, entertainment,
etc. are the prime needs of people. Conduction
of development activities makes several facilities
available for people. Availability of several facilities
helps people to fulfill their basic as well as additional
needs. Fig: 7
GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 49

d. Social development
Development activities are essential for the development of a society. They make several
facilities like health services, education, transportation, communication, employment,
etc. available in the society. As a result, people start getting advantages from all of them.
They bring change in attitudes and behaviours of people. People can have social and
economic changes with the development works. Hence, they become more committed
and responsible for the development of entire society.















Fig: 8

e. Balance in environment

Development activities need to be conducted in
all the places of country. During the conduction
of development works, there is utilization of
local resources like forest, water, soil, minerals
etc. Moreover, the required facilities will be
available in the local level. When the required
facilities are available in the local level, people
are discouraged to migrate in other places
that controls unmanaged urbanization and
several other problems in next place. Hence, Fig: 9
development activities make balance in environment by the utilization of resources as
well as distribution of population proportionately in a place.

f. Development of skills
Various types of development activities
need various types of manpower. More and
more people get job opportunities during
the conduction of development activities.
As a result, people get opportunities to gain
knowledge, skills and become more capable,
efficient and skillful. Ultimately, the skills and
knowledge gained during the development
activities can be utilized for the overall Fig: 10
development of entire nation.


50 GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9