Socio-cultural factors related to environmental degradation: a study of Patiala District of Punjab

Abstract

Environment is one of the most important issue of the day. The role of environmental factors on the growth, development, health and welfare of organisms has been realized since time immemorial and man has made conscious and determined efforts to modify his surroundings. So it will be very significant to examine the environmental issues closely so that a better and balanced development without destruction of the habitats and degradation of the total environment is achieved. The present study was undertaken in Patiala district of Punjab, The focus of research was to find out how socio-cultural factors are related to environmental degradation. Total 287 respondents were selected for the collection of primary information. The information was collected with the help of an interview schedule. The present thesis consists of six chapters. First deals with introduction of the topic including aims, objectives, hypothesis and methodology. Second chapter deals with the review of the literature. In the third chapter the profile of the respondents is discussed. Fourth chapter indicates the awareness about the environmental degradation among the respondents in which it was found that majority of the people were partially aware. Caste and religion has no impact on the awareness of the respondents. Impact of socio-cultural factors were explained in the fifth chapter. Lastly, sixth chapter deals with summary and conclusions. It was observed that though people are educated and awared about the environmental degradation but in practical they least bothered.