Social change refers to the changes experienced in society, but it is important that such changes are accompanied by sustainable development for ensuring their utility infuture. Sustainable development can be described as the progress that aims to achieve a balance between biophysical, technological and cultural aspects of social change.
Introduction of innovations without any regard to the traditional knowledge of recipient cultures can be detrimental to the native biodiversity. Ignoring traditional ecological knowledge cannot be sustainable. According to the United Nations (UN), sustainable development refers to ‘development that meets the needs of the present generations, without compromising with the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs’.
Social change has been experienced in all spheres of life in India. India is the largest democracy and has a rapidly growing economy. Cultural aspect in social change is often the slowest to change. Technological innovations often when unacompanied by change in attitudes and values, leave behind cultural lag and several associated social problems e.g.: we have more cell phones than toilets in India. On one hand, it is taking strides towards growth and prosperity. On other hand, it has a gloomy face stricken by poverty, inequality and ignorance.
The race for creating and adopting technological innovations has had a ripple effect which is visible through rising consumerism. This is ultimately affecting the climate and the effects – can be felt through Global Warming and Climate Change. These are no longer theoretical concepts but real and visible challenges. Extremes of temperatures; sudden heavy rainfall causign floods; rising sea levels are all an effect of human activity only. The Millennium sustainable goal aims at eradicating poverty, providing clean drinking water to all, enrolling all children for primary education and lowering child mortality till 2030.
