Internal assessment example 1: Environmental value system in Kathua

Peoples Environmental Value System on Industrial Development in Kathua District of

Jammu and Kashmir

Word Count: about 2900 without bibliography

RQ and Inquiry

One of the major objectives of economic development is to increase employment opportunities.

Industrial sector creates more jobs especially in the rural regions. However, Industrial development
invariably leads to environmental degradation because no industry is 100% pollution-free and they
adversely affect our environment, reducing its carrying capacity. Hence it is indispensable to take
measures which can reduce environmental pollution.

For the present study on the change in environmental values due to industrial development I have
chosen the Textile industries of Kathua town of Jamrnu and Kashmir. The reason for the choice being is
that I reside here and I want to understand how the different age groups impact the views of people. And
I want to know the opinion of the youth as they are the future of the area. The industrial area is one of
the oldest in the state and has a textile industry, Chenab Textile Mill. They are spread over an area of more
than 4 km2, with 322 industries as of today.

The pollution index used is “The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
has developed the criteria of categorization of industrial sectors based on the Pollution Index which is a
function of the emissions (air pollutants), effluents (water pollutants), hazardous wastes generated and
consumption of resources” (Re-Categorisation). A majority of these industries in Kathua are in the red and
orange lists. Which means that they have a 3 pollution index score ranging from 41-60+ on the index.

The Press release from the Government (Re-Categorisation) shows the categories as
o Industrial Sectors having Pollution Index score of 60 and above Red category
o Industrial Sectors having Pollution Index score of 41 to 59 Orange category
o Industrial Sectors having Pollution Index score of 21 to 40 Green category
o Industrial Sectors having Pollution Index score incl.&up to 20 White category
Because of scanty rainfall and water scarcity the area has dominance of woodland and scrub
vegetation which once removed takes decades to reestablish itself. It is in this context that industry-
environment linkages in this area are important. Vegetation of the area has been cleared for the industry
which has deprived it of its biodiversity. Due to which there is extreme water wastage, which is disposed
of, in the nearby surrounding villages, where due to extreme poverty people are forced to drink this water,
leading to multiple water prone diseases. The water bodies getting polluted by toxic waste such as lead,
bleaching agents, and dye have been impacting not only the surrounding residential area but also
agricultural land miles away. These factors can influence the environmental value systems of people which
range from anthropocentric which is a People-centered approach in which people manage their
environment and themselves with the help of independent regulatory authorities to technocentric in
which it is believed that technology will keep pace with and provide solutions to all problems through the
use of scientific analysis and prediction in order to understand and control natural processes.
Ecocentrism focuses on the value and importance on the entire environment and all life in it, not just the
parts that are useful to humans.

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 Internal assessment example 1: Environmental value system in Kathua

Image l: Industrial area of Kathua town and its adjoining residential localities
Research question

To what extent does age affect the environmental viewpoint of the citizens residing in the Kathua area of
Jammu and Kashmir

In this study I assumed that the younger generations will have technology based solutions to the problems
because they are more aware of technological advancement in relation to economic development, whereas
those in the older age group may like to conserve the environment as they have seen it being degraded by
economic development in their lifetime.

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 Internal assessment example 1: Environmental value system in Kathua

Strategy: Water intensive industries like Textile Mills and paper and pulp industries can be provided with common effluent
treatment plants (CETP) for cleaning the effluent at point source.

Industry is important because it creates a large number of jobs. This is all the more important in developing
countries like India, which have unemployment as a serious issue. Therefore, the establishment of more industries
would mean creation of more jobs and security of livelihood. However, industries do degrade the environment. More
polluting industries create more environmental problems. Viewed from this perspective my findings have a
significant relevance to offer a framework for solution to environmental problems created by industries in the study
area.

This strategy is realistic because it's fairly cheap and efficient because wherever CETP has been functional
the water pollution has been reduced to a manageable level (Ali). However, the main drawback of CETP in the area
is that the majority are nonfunctional due to little awareness of the government and the people's environmental
pollution (Ali). This can be tackled by strict law enforcement on environmental pollution

This strategy is a technology-based solution to environmental problems. The solution is also important
because these industries have potential of creating more jobs and the young generations are the dominant section
who are job seekers. If CETPs are used effectively, both environment and job security can be preserved.

Tensions created from this are whether the CETP is affective in removing the wastes, the local people and government
may still have polluted water but think it is safe. How is the CETP paid for? If the industries have to cover the costs then
the price of their goods may increase. Who will do the monitoring and check the water quality? There is an opportunity
for corruption and bribing by the industries and the officials checking the water quality.

Method
The survey was created by myself but combined with another student who wanted to do a survey on food choices and
age in the same area. This allowed us to do face to face interviews with more people as 2 of us did it. This was the collaboration
done for the IA method only.

Variable table

Table 1: The dependent, independent and controlled variables of the investigation.

Variable Named variable Justification

Independent Age
To see how age determines the environmental
value system of people.

Dependent Environmental Value System of Value system changes with change in

people age
For better comparison, there needs to be the
Control 10 people per age group
same number of respondents across age groups.

The same set of questions to all To elicit comparable responses within groups

People residing near the industrial

For better environmental impact assessment
area
in terms of responses across age groups

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Material table

Table 2: The equipment and materials required for all parts of the procedure.

S. No. Equipment/material Justification

1. Laptop To store and analyze data along with the

construction of graphics.

2. Pen/ pencil For a better record of responses

3 Printed Questionnaire In order to collect multiple responses from

respondents.

Why Kathua as the area for study? Why Govindsar and Rishinagar?

The reason for choosing Kathua is because I reside here and it is easier for me to visit the locality.
Kathua has had various types of industries in the area for over 60 years. Chenab textile mill is located in
between Rishinagar and Govindsar. These two areas have been exposed to industrial areas for the past 60
years. The localities surveyed are adjacent to the industrial area which makes it easier to collect information
through people's responses.
Why one on one interaction with the respondents?

Most of the people surrounding the industrial areas are either illiterate or semi-illiterate hence it
became necessary to have face to face interaction for collecting information on the chosen topic. One on one
way of collecting information also provides us authenticity of information collected and also makes the
respondent get any doubts on the questions cleared immediately.
Procedure

1. Make the survey, combined with my partner survey person. Every question should have three options
and one choice should be ecocentric, technocentric, anthropocentric
Questionnaire questions and responses: (there was a question on age and on food choices from the other students too)
1) which of the following do you agree with?
A) Industries development is more importan1 than the up keep of the environment
B) Environment preservation is more important than industries
C) both environment and development are equally important

2) Which of the following is the best solution to reduce industrial pollution?

A) legislation and regulations
B) Disband polluting industries from locality
C) industries should use technology such as pollution treatment plants

3) How do you think industrial solid waste can be better managed

A) increasing penalty
B) There should be no polluting industries
C) Technological use for solid waste management

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4) How do think we can reduce the demand for clean wa1er in industries
A) Higher penalty
B) no water intensive industries
C) Recycling of water and water treatment plants

5) What should be the land around industrial areas be used for

A) Building more industries and creating jobs
B) Planting trees to reduce pollution
C) Establishing research centers on environment industrial relationship

6)Durable solution to rising vehicular traffic due to industrialization?

A) No need to reduce traffic as of now
B) Use of pubic transports
C) Switch to E vehicles

7)What do you think should be the way out to lessen the impact of the most polluting industry?
A) Economic development is more important than environmental pollution
B) Ban Industry
C) Effluent Treatment plants

8) The water waste from industries adversely affect aquatic life in the surrounding
areas, what should we do?
A) Continue without any change because we need increase our production for our economy to grow
B) Stop the water waste animals have the right to live
C) Try to improve technology to decrease water waste

9) Industrial development is associated with Habitat loss how should this be addressed?
A) Industrial development should take priority because humans need Industries for development
B) Stop the further expansion of industries
C) We should invest in planting more tress else where for compensating habitat loss eg
national parks.

1O)lndustrialization and physical environment should sustain each other?

A) Necessary as long as it is helping humans
B) Yes
C) technology can maintain the balance between the two

2. The procedure for administration of questionnaire is given below

a. Make sure 10 people from each age group at Govindsar and Rishinagar are administered the
questionnaire for response. I did Govindsar and my partner did Rishinagar.
b. Individually ask the different individuals the questions framed, providing them the choices for
answers as provided in the questionnaire and give them time to answer.
c. Note all the answers of the respondent in the questionnaire

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 Internal assessment example 1: Environmental value system in Kathua

Chart 1: Flowchart showing the survey plan

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 Internal assessment example 1: Environmental value system in Kathua

Data Collection and processing

Govindsar data (I collected)

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Rishinagar Data (partner collected for me)

Responses have been recorded based on 4 age groups namely, 0-19, 20-34, 35-59, 60+. Three options have been
provided to the respondents namely Anthropocentric(a)/ Ecocentric (b)/Technocentric(c). Ten persons in each age group
from two localities namely Govindsar and Rishi Nagar adjoining the industrial area have been selected. A total of 80
respondents were interviewed. The survey was conducted on 8 June to 13 June, 2021. The data was collected, tabulated
and processed.

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 Internal assessment example 1: Environmental value system in Kathua

Table 4 Combined responses of all age groups in percentage

0-19 43 21.5% 34 17% 123 61.5%

20-34 129 64.5% 47 23% 50 12%
35-54 94 47% 54 27% 52 26%
60+ 23 11.5% 153 76.5% 24 12%

Calculation for percentage change:

Number of responses per option divided by total number of responses multiplied for the question multiplied 100 gives the
percentage. Replete this for total responses for each choice in each age group to find the percentage of individuals per
choice.
Calculation of percentage of anthropocentric responses in age group 0- 1 9= To find
percentage of 43/200 responses = Number of picks for that response total number of response of age group x100 =43/200x100=
21.5%

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 Internal assessment example 1: Environmental value system in Kathua

Analysis:
Chart 2: Age group 19 and below EVS (anthro=anthrocentric, eco=ecocentric, tec=technocentric)

Age specific data presented in Table 4 and pie chart above show that in the age group 19 years and below a
dominant majority of the respondents have at technocentric views (61.5%), which in other words mean that the
young generation trusts technical solutions to environmental problems. This may be due to their greater
exposure to modern education guided by science and technology. Anthropocentric viewpoint is supported
by only 21.5% whereas ecocentrism is favored by just 17%.
Chart 3: Age group 20-34 EVS

The second age group between 20-34 has a different viewpoint regarding Environmental problems created
by industry and the solution for such problems, it has been found that 64.5% of the respondents were
inclined towards anthropocentrism, whereas technocentric and ecocentric account for only 12% and
23.5% respectively. Dominance of anthropocentrism seems obvious for the simple reason that this age
group forms mostly of the workforce, therefore human beings at the center of development seems natural
because this group is the breadwinner for the family.

Chart 4: Age group 35-59 EVS

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This age group also has the highest number of respondents (47%) who have opted for anthropocentric values.
The other two groups viz. techno and ecocentric account for 26% and 27%. The dominance of responses for
anthropocentric views in age groups 20-34 and 35-59 indicate a predictable trend as these age groups account
for most of the workforce.
Chart 5: Age group 60+ EVS

In the age group 60+ as many as 76.5% have favored eccentric view points. This is totally different from
the other age groups so far as solutions to environmental problems are concerned. Age factor seems to be
very important in this age group. This could be due to the fact that the older generation of the area have
witnessed a series of environmental degradation changes as a result of industrialization of the area.
Therefore the older generation appears to be in favor of conserving it.
It is clear from the graphs that anthropocentrism increases with age in which it reaches the highest point in the
age group 20-35 (64.5%). Thereafter it declines with age, where the age group 35-59 has 47% and 60+ have just
12%. For Technocentric the highest number of responses are in the age group 0-19 (61%). The age group (20-34)
has a sharp decline in responses; only 12% of the respondents have favored technocentric. In the age group 35-
59 (26%) there is a rise in technocentric values and a sharp decline thereafter where only 12% of the respondents
support technocentric.

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There is a clear trend across age groups. With increase in age group, there is an increase in the percentage share
of ecocentrism, which signifies that as age increases people are more concerned about the environment they live
in which confirms my hypothesis. This appears to be due to age difference and the associated educational levels,
socioeconomic backgrounds and cultural value systems. While most of the young generation below 19 favor
technocentric solutions to the environment problems, those in age groups 20-34 and 35-59 are dominantly
anthropocentric. The findings therefore confirm my hypothesis. All this indicates that both young
generations and the middle-aged groups have economic development at the center. The problems
generated by industrialization in relation to the environment are favored to be tackled through technology.
This means that a majority of the people surveyed in Kathua town are pro economic development as
personified by industrialization. Only the older generation are more focused on conservation of
environment over and above economic development in the area. So, in my study two opposing groups can
be seen namely those who favor human centric development and finding solutions to the environment
through technology and those who favor the environment over economic development.

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Evaluation
The findings show the effectiveness of the study on industry and environment. The results are
reliable as I have collected information through the questionnaire from the 80 participants. Another strength
which made my project more reliable was the translation of the questions in the local language of the
respondents. I also made respondents understand the questions whenever they were unable to
comprehend them.
However, there are inherent weaknesses in my study. While collecting and analyzing the data,
extreme care has been taken to represent the information accurately, yet errors in the data collected
might have crept into due to the selection of only two localities. Having more localities would have given
me fairer results.
I should have created more questions to get a better understanding of how age can impact the EVS.
I should have also taken more respondents under each age range.
Having not visited the two localities myself and having a partner do the survey and ask the questions in the
second area may have meant we conducted the survey slightly differently. But this did give us more data than if
we had done this alone. In expanding on the questions to help people understand too much information may
have been given and each person then had a different experience.

Another important factor for difference of opinion might be due to low levels of education among
the population of the area. Considering the educational qualification and awareness levels of the people,
would have helped me in writing better analysis.
Lastly the questionnaire could have taken into account the relationship between environment and
development for land, water and air pollution and their impact on people's health and EVS.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

18, Steve Cohen !July, et al. "Changing Environmental Values and a Changing World." State of the
Planet, 30 Jan. 2017, [Link] envi:ronmental-
values-and-a-changing-world/.

Ali, M. et al, “Common Effluent Treatment Plants Monitoring and Process Augmentation Options to Conform Non-
potable Reuse.” Frontiers in environmental science, 10 December 2021,
[Link]

"District Industrial Center J&K: Department Of Industry & Commerce, J & K." DIC J& K I Department Of
Industry & Commerce, J & K, [Link]/[Link].

"Environmental Concern amidst Industrialisation." Down To Earth,

"Environmental Value Systems Within the Green Revolution." The Awakened Environmentalists, The
Awakened Environmentalists, 11 Sept. 2016,

Marshall, N. A., et al. "Our Environmental Value Orientations Influence How We Respond to
Climate Change." Frontiers, Frontiers, 1 Jan. lAD,
[Link]

Prati, Gabriele, et al. "Human Values and Beliefs and Concern about Climate Change: A Bayesian
Longitudinal Analysis - Quality & Quantity." SpringerLink, Springer Netherlands, 25 July 2017,
[Link]

‘Re-Categorisation of Industries a landmark decision, new category of white industries will not require
environmental clearance’ Press Information Bureau, Government of India, Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change, 5 March 2016, [Link]

"Vikaspedia Domains." English, [Link]/energy/policy-support/environment-

1/environment-ministry-releas es-new-categorisation-of-industries/

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