Non-Traditional Security Concerns in India

Definition: They are defined as challenges to the survival and well-being of people and states that arise primarily out of non military sources.
Features
- Non-military in nature.
- Transnational in scope- neither totally domestic nor purely interstate.
- Transmitted rapidly due to the globalisation and communication revolution.

Issues

Food Security
- India’s population is still growing and will not stabilise until 2050/2060.
- Ranked among the least developed nations when it comes to the problems of malnutrition and stunning.
- Ways to Solve
  - The holistic approach includes political dialogue not only at national levels but intergovernmental levels encompassing the various government departments to effectively implement PDS.
  - Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) programme based on the micro-planning basis at the district level of Rajasthan can be replicated.
Climate Change and Environment Pollution
- India’s development trajectory has had to contend with increasing environmental challenges.
- Indian cities are ranked among the most polluted cities in the world.
- For example – Delhi
- Ways to Solve
  - Netherlands and France based on raising taxes on polluting inputs which are then invested in sustainable infrastructural development.
  - Indian initiatives like National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
Water Scarcity and Contamination
- With a huge population, there is pressure on scarce water resources despite having abundant rain.
- Unsustainable water harvesting structure.
- Ways to Solve
  - Collaboration with Israel and adoption of modern facilities like drip irrigation.
  - Adoption of atmospheric water generation (AWG) uses technology to produce potable water from surrounding air.
  - Revival of traditional water harvesting methods like Zings are water harvesting structures found in Ladakh.
Energy Security Issues
- India is considered as one of the energy dependent countries even though India has a good GDP growth rate.
- Most energy supplies are coming from the Middle East countries. If any supply constraints occur it will drag India to an energy shortage poverty which eventually results in political and law & order unrest.
- Ways to Solve
  - Explore energy resources within countries like Natural gas in Krishna – Godavari delta.
  - Development of green energy like wind and solar energy.
Public Health Issues
- Poor health infrastructure, high out of pocket expenditure.
- For example – Gorakhpur BRB Hospital case in which children die due to oxygen shortages.
- Ways to Solve
  - Adoption of models like Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
Disasters
- The disasters like floods, droughts, landslides, cyclones may cause internal displacement of people that cause regional conflicts.
- For example – Bihar, Assam floods
- Ways to Solve
  - Adopt disaster resilient infrastructure like Japan.