Desirability of Land Filling- views on Prohibition- Lottery.
Is removing soil from slopes or mining granites harmful?
Removing the soil from slopes and filling low lying unproductive land, is serving a very useful development need,in thickly populated Kerala. So is the granite mining, essential to support rail, road and building industry, vital for our development. Digging and filling land does not affect the water retaining ability of soil, in the hilly slopes. In sloppy lands, unless it is terraced, the rain water flows down,without being absorbed, causing much soil erosion and damage. A flat area helps to absorb the rainfall, as sub soil water. This is also true In the filled land, All the rain water flowing into or falling on flat land, is absorbed and contained. The water falling in any land (slopes, leveled or swamps) eventually flow or seep down to lower levels, as surface or sub soil water and the surplus water eventually flows out to reach the backwaters or the sea. The nature can be scientifically managed, to benefit the increased requirement of human race. One example is the well managed large Tea Plantations, which has better green cover, less soil erosion and better water retention, than even the virgin forests. Unscientific methods of cultivation by small settlers, have damaged the environment, but resettlement of landless, was the need at that time. The solution is to teach and provide physical and financial help,to the small farmers, to conserve the soil and water, by scientific methods of cultivation. It is not practical or acceptable, to move them out of sensitive zones now, but more practical to use them to stop further degradation.It is a fact that much before humans appeared on earth, many prehistoric species became extinct and new ones emerged. This process of nature will continue, along with human development. Man’s part is small in nature, compared to natural forces like volcanoes, earth quakes, cyclones, floods, mutation etc.
Is Prohibition the answer? The use of fermented wine or alcoholic beverages, by human society, is recorded from ancient times. Use of wine and alcoholic beverages, in moderation continues to have a place in our diet and living today.. Alcoholism (addiction) no doubt is a major social problem, in many societies, more in the poorer segment. Prohibition is not likely to help alcoholics, which has repeatedly failed the world over. Prohibition will only force them, to use of unhealthy illicit brews,,use of addictive drugs, encourage corruption, increase cost and help crime and Mafia. We will get better results, if we channel our resources, on the following efforts, instead of campaigning for prohibition.
1.Create public awareness about ill effects of alcohol and provide wide publicity to social impact and danger of addiction to drinking and drugs.
2. Promote and make available low alcohol beverages such as toddy.and low alcohol Beer.
3. Provide free de-addiction centers, within easy access in the State.
(Be aware that alcoholism is a sickness of mind and can be treated and cured)
The State Lottery. The state run lottery, also affects a large number of poor workers, by robbing their family earnings. The poorer segment of society, is the victim of exploiting their weakness, for gambling, by the Government.The state run Lottery does not serve any producvtive purpose. It encourages fraud and waste of labour. Adultery and prostitution can also disrupt or ruin the family, which no legal or moral frame work, will succeed to prevent. All of them are due to sickness of the mind, which has to be treated. Addictions including excessive craving for food, gambling, alcohol, narcotic drugs, unnatural sexual drive, are all curable illness of mental weakness.
China has recently prohibited adultery in the party and Government, a better joke our leaders may consider.
One must keep in mind, that there is a large majority of silent people in the society, who has a different view, on how to solve many such social evils. They also have a right to choose, their way of leading a responsible life. We should help weaker segment of society’s awareness, to the dangers, enlighten them and help them, to take better choices for themselves. We have no right to force views on others, by banning alcohol etc, as every one has their right of choice.
K,GeorgeJoh.
Editted 10/2018.
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