38
2.7.3 Low per Capita Income in India
According to GNI per capita Atlas Method, India was ranked at 112th out of 164
countries in terms of per capita income in 2016 (World Bank 2018). The per capita
income in India was $1670 per year in 2016 and increased to $1787 per year in
2018. According to Hung and Shaw (2004), economic growth and environmental
protection cannot be achieved simultaneously and that Governments seek economic
development first and then clean-up. Omay (2013) had shown that per capita income
do not directly affect air pollution but for low per capita income country emissions
from vehicles are high which affect the air quality of the country.
There is an also a direct relationship between the purchasing power and per capita income (if other factors like inflation, etc., remain same). As per capita income
increases the purchasing power also increases as a result man switch towards more
environmental friendly products. On the other hand with low purchasing power,
man opts for cheaper product which may not be environmentally sustainable. Due
to low per capita income, people are forced to live in unhygienic places which are
cheaper and make them vulnerable to climate change and environmental hazards.
2.7.4 Public Health in India
Public health is a major concern for any country in the world and a healthy population can contribute to the growth and development of that country. According to
National Health Profile (2018), ‘India accounts for a large share of world disease’s
burden’. India’s per capita expenditure on health has increased from Rs. 621 in
2009–2010 to Rs. 1112 in 2015–2016 (National Health Profile 2018). Environmental
pollution and climate change directly affect the public health and deteriorate the
health profile of any country. According to WHO (2018), outdoor ambient air quality accounted for 4.2 million premature deaths per year worldwide in 2016.
According to WHO (2016), ‘worldwide ambient air pollution’ accounts for:
• 29% of all deaths and disease from lung cancer
• 17% of all deaths and disease from acute lower respiratory infection
• 24% of all deaths from stroke
• 25% of all deaths and disease from ischaemic heart disease
• 43% of all deaths and disease from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
In India, air pollution accounts for a total of 1.24 million deaths, that is, one in
eight deaths in the year 2017 (Centre for Policy Research 2018). According to
National Health Portal of India (https://www.nhp.gov.in/world-water-day_pg),
water scarcity is affecting 4 out of 10 people globally and unavailability of safe
water leads to compromise hygiene which increases the risk of diarrhoeal diseases
and kills approximately 2.2 million people every year. Climate change is expected
to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year, from malnutrition,
P. K. Sikdar and S. Basu
2.7.3 Low per Capita Income in India
According to GNI per capita Atlas Method, India was ranked at 112th out of 164
countries in terms of per capita income in 2016 (World Bank 2018). The per capita
income in India was $1670 per year in 2016 and increased to $1787 per year in
2018. According to Hung and Shaw (2004), economic growth and environmental
protection cannot be achieved simultaneously and that Governments seek economic
development first and then clean-up. Omay (2013) had shown that per capita income
do not directly affect air pollution but for low per capita income country emissions
from vehicles are high which affect the air quality of the country.
There is an also a direct relationship between the purchasing power and per capita income (if other factors like inflation, etc., remain same). As per capita income
increases the purchasing power also increases as a result man switch towards more
environmental friendly products. On the other hand with low purchasing power,
man opts for cheaper product which may not be environmentally sustainable. Due
to low per capita income, people are forced to live in unhygienic places which are
cheaper and make them vulnerable to climate change and environmental hazards.
2.7.4 Public Health in India
Public health is a major concern for any country in the world and a healthy population can contribute to the growth and development of that country. According to
National Health Profile (2018), ‘India accounts for a large share of world disease’s
burden’. India’s per capita expenditure on health has increased from Rs. 621 in
2009–2010 to Rs. 1112 in 2015–2016 (National Health Profile 2018). Environmental
pollution and climate change directly affect the public health and deteriorate the
health profile of any country. According to WHO (2018), outdoor ambient air quality accounted for 4.2 million premature deaths per year worldwide in 2016.
According to WHO (2016), ‘worldwide ambient air pollution’ accounts for:
• 29% of all deaths and disease from lung cancer
• 17% of all deaths and disease from acute lower respiratory infection
• 24% of all deaths from stroke
• 25% of all deaths and disease from ischaemic heart disease
• 43% of all deaths and disease from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
In India, air pollution accounts for a total of 1.24 million deaths, that is, one in
eight deaths in the year 2017 (Centre for Policy Research 2018). According to
National Health Portal of India (https://www.nhp.gov.in/world-water-day_pg),
water scarcity is affecting 4 out of 10 people globally and unavailability of safe
water leads to compromise hygiene which increases the risk of diarrhoeal diseases
and kills approximately 2.2 million people every year. Climate change is expected
to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year, from malnutrition,
P. K. Sikdar and S. Basu