Topic Of the Day:-“Natural Capital And Progress”
Now that the Chief Minister has affirmed that the “last person has been rescued”, rehabilitation is progressing and plans are afoot to rebuild Kerala, it is hoped that the last will be approached with an open mind. This would be a mindset that recognises that much must change in Kerala’s civil society, which in turn would trigger change at the level of governance. Indeed a paradigm shift, being a profound change in the perception of progress, is needed. The central element in this new perception must be that a continuous decline of a society’s natural capital cannot be seen as compatible with progress. Kerala has justifiably been identified as having carved out aniche, and not just in India but globally, as a society with high human development at a relatively low level of income. While it may be pointed out that globally, many other societies, particularly to the east of India, have achieved the same in terms of some standard social indicators, it must be remembered that, as a part of India, it had also to deal with an ossified social structure in the form of caste and the inequalities it perpetuated. Socialstratification was far less in east Asian societies making it easier for them to transform. For Kerala to have overcome this burden through a non-violent political revolution is a considerable achievement.
At times though, stories of our success relayed across the world may lead us to be somewhat swayed by praise. This may have happened to the leadership of Kerala society which extends beyond the political class to itsintellectuals. While focussing on certain aspects of a society, external observers could miss others that are just as crucial in evaluating its development. Laudatory evaluations of Kerala have masked the decline in natural capital and associated ecosystem services that have accompanied the rise in income. The decline in natural capital has ranged from deforestation that contributes to rainwater run-off contributing to landslides, to sand-mining that leads to rivers over-flowing their banks, and building on the flood plains that were meant to provide a cushion. All of these contribute to flooding.
meanings and words
18) affirmed
Meaning : state emphatically or publicly.
Tamil Meaning : உறுதி
Synonyms : assert , insist
Antonyms : deny
Example : “he affirmed the country’s commitment to peace”
19) afoot
Meaning : in preparation or progress; happening or beginning to happen.
Tamil Meaning : மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டுள்ளன
Synonyms : hiking
Antonyms : completed
Example : “plans are afoot for a festival”
20) recognises
Meaning : identify (someone or something) from having encountered them before; know again.
Tamil Meaning : அங்கீகரிக்கிறது
Synonyms : admit
Antonyms : forget
Example : “I recognized her when her wig fell off”
21) Indeed
Meaning : used to emphasize a statement or response confirming something already suggested.
Tamil Meaning : உண்மை
Synonyms : certainly
Antonyms : doubtfully
Example : “it was not expected to last long, and indeed it took less than three weeks”
22) paradigm
Meaning : a typical example or pattern of something; a pattern or model.
Tamil Meaning : முன்னுதாரணம்
Synonyms : chart
Example : “society’s paradigm of the ‘ideal woman’”
23) profound
Meaning : (of a state, quality, or emotion) very great or intense.
Tamil Meaning : ஆழ்ந்த
Synonyms : intelligent
Antonyms : open
Example : “profound feelings of disquiet”
24) niche
Meaning : a shallow recess, especially one in a wall to display a statue or other ornament.
Tamil Meaning : முக்கிய
Synonyms : alcove , slot
Antonyms : closure
Example : “each niche holding a shepherdess in Dresden china”
25) ossified
Meaning : turn into bone or bony tissue.
Tamil Meaning : உயர்மட்டத்தில்
Synonyms : fossilized
Antonyms : thinned
Example : “these tracheal cartilages may ossify”
26) perpetuate
Meaning : make (something) continue indefinitely.
Tamil Meaning : நிலைத்த
Synonyms : bolster
Antonyms : discontinue
Example : “the confusion was perpetuated through inadvertence”
27) swayed
Meaning : move or cause to move slowly or rhythmically backwards and forwards or from side to side.
Tamil Meaning : இயக்கலாம்
Synonyms : waver , bend
Antonyms : straighten
Example : “he swayed slightly on his feet”
28) exacerbate
Meaning : make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse.
Tamil Meaning : அதிகப்படுத்தும்
Synonyms : annoy
Antonyms : alleviate
Example : “the exorbitant cost of land in urban areas only exacerbated the problem”
29) aftermath
Meaning : the consequences or after-effects of a significant unpleasant event.
Tamil Meaning : பின்னர்
Synonyms : impact , outcome
Antonyms : cause
Example : “food prices soared in the aftermath of the drought”
30) quarry
Meaning : a place, typically a large, deep pit, from which stone or other materials are or have been extracted.
Synonyms : aim , chase
Antonyms : predator
Example : “a limestone quarry”
31) acclaim
Meaning : praise enthusiastically and publicly.
Tamil Meaning : பாராட்டை
Synonyms : applause
Antonyms : criticism
Example : “the conference was acclaimed as a considerable success”
32) trajectory
Meaning : the path followed by a projectile flying or an object moving under the action of given forces.
Tamil Meaning : பயணப்பாதை
Synonyms : orbit
Example : “the missile’s trajectory was preset”
33) loathe
Meaning : feel intense dislike or disgust for.
Tamil Meaning : வெறு
Synonyms : despise
Antonyms : adore
Example : “she loathed him on sight”
34) pathology
Meaning : pathological features considered collectively; the typical behaviour of a disease.
Synonyms : anatomy , ecology
Example : “the pathology of Huntington’s disease”
35) accumulated
Meaning : gather together or acquire an increasing number or quantity of.
Tamil Meaning : குவிக்க
Synonyms : accrue
Antonyms : contract
Example : “investigators have yet to accumulate enough evidence”
36) intellectuals
Meaning : a person possessing a highly developed intellect.
Tamil Meaning : அறிவு
Synonyms : scholar
Antonyms : imbecile
Example : “a prominent political thinker and intellectual”
37) stratification
Meaning : the arrangement or classification of something into different groups.
Tamil Meaning : அடுக்கமைவுகளை
Synonyms : lamination
Antonyms : nonhierarchical
Example : “wealth is the main symbol of social stratification“
38) rescued
Meaning : an act of saving or being saved from danger or difficulty.
Tamil Meaning : மீட்பு
Synonyms : delivery
Antonyms : failure
Example : “the dramatic rescue of nine trapped coal miners”
39) compatible
Meaning : a computer that can use software designed for another make or type.
Tamil Meaning : இணக்கமான
Synonyms : adaptable , consistent
Antonyms : improper
Example : “packages available for IBM PCs and compatibles”
40) Laudatory
Meaning : (of speech or writing) expressing praise and commendation.
Synonyms : acclamatory
Antonyms : blaming
Example : “enthusiastic and laudatory articles”
