Why we need Commons-based initiatives in India
The United Nations identifies the need to learn to deal with limited natural resources despite the rising population in low income countries, especially India.
With more than 18% of the global population and a primarily agricultural economy, India is expected to have one of the biggest shortage for natural resources in the world.
Apart from population control, a Commons-based society is the solution proposed by many economists to manage these natural resources. The Commons is often understood to refer to resources shared and governed by the community. Elinor Ostrom, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2009, proved that cooperation can be more effective than the market or the government to sustainably manage the commonly owned natural resources.
The United Nations has identified ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns as one of the 12 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), otherwise known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The Commons Action at the United Nations is a concerted effort to identify and promote Commons-based economies as a means to achieve these Global Goals. This effort recognizes the importance of sustaining and promoting communites run with a Commons approach including the Sarvodaya movement and self-sustained rural communities. Such communities have traditionally been a part of India.
The Indian government also recognizes resource efficiency as a priority. The National Institution for Transforming India (Niti Aayog) arm of the government has included resource efficiency as part of a strategy document. However, the document glaringly leaves out any references to the Commons or a circular economy. This lack of public initiatives to promote Commons-based strategy necessitates a need for grassroots-level action and advocacy.
My upcoming blogposts will be about these Commons-based initiatives in India. Have you seen or experienced examples of Commons-based strategies in India? What Commons-based initiatives do you think India needs? Is there a specific topic you would like to see a blogpost about? Leave a comment below!
