COMMUNICATION SKILLS CLASS

Communication Skills means how do we communicate with each other. The way of presenting our
information is very important. Communication Skills include those areas which deal with our talking,
writing, expressing our views. By reading this chapter you will understand how to communicate with
others decently. This includes the overall development of your personality.

Session 1: Methods of Communication

The word ‘communication’ comes from the Latin word commūnicāre, meaning ‘to share’. Clear and concise
communication is of immense importance in work and business environment as there are several parties involved.
Communication has three important parts:
1. Transmitting — The sender transmits the message through one medium or another.
2. Listening — The receiver listens or understands the message.
3. Feedback — The receiver conveys their understanding of the message to the sender in the form of feedback to
complete the communication cycle.

Communication Process and Elements

The various elements of the communication cycle are:
Sender: the person beginning the communication.
Message: the information that the sender wants to convey.
Channel: the means by which the information is sent.
Receiver: the person to whom the message is sent.
Feedback: the receiver’s acknowledgment and response to the message.
Methods of Communication
· Face-to-face informal
· communication
· e-mail
· Notices/Posters
· Business Meetings
· social networks, message, phone call for communication, newsletter, blog, etc
Choosing the right method of communication depends on
• Target audience
• Costs
• Kind/type of information
• Urgency/priority

Session 2: Verbal Communication

Verbal communication includes sounds, words, language, and speech. Speaking is one of the most effective and
commonly used ways of communicating. It helps in expressing our emotions in words.
Type of Verbal Communication
Interpersonal Communication: This form of communication takes place between two individuals and is thus a one-
on-one conversation. It can be formal or informal.
Written Communication: This form of communication involves writing words. It can be letters, circulars, reports,
manuals, SMS, social media chats, etc. It can be between two or more people.
Small Group Communication: This type of communication takes place when there are more than two people
involved. Each participant can interact and converse with the rest.
Public Communication: This type of communication takes place when one individual addresses a large gathering.
Advantages of Verbal Communication:
It is an easy mode of communication in which you can exchange ideas by saying what you want and get a quick
response.

Disadvantages of Verbal Communication

Since verbal communication depends on written or spoken words, sometimes the meanings can be confusing
and difficult to understand if the right words are not used.
 Mastering Verbal Communication
Think Before You Speak
• Think about your topic.
• Think about the most effective ways to make your listeners
Understand the topic.

 Write or note down whatever you plan to say.

 Concise and Clear
 Speak clearly, loudly and at moderate speed.
 Be sure the information you want to share is to the point.
 Do not repeat the same sentences.
 Confidence and Body Language
 Be confident.
 Maintain eye contact, stand straight and be attentive.
 Be friendly.

Session 3: Non-verbal Communication

Non-verbal communication is the expression or exchange of information or messages without using any spoken or
written word.
Importance of Non-verbal Communication
In our day-to-day communication
• 55% communication is done using body movements, face, arms, etc.
• 38% communication is done using voice, tone, pauses, etc.
• only 7% communication is done using words.
Types of Non-verbal Communication
• Facial Expressions
• Posture
• Gestures or Body Language
• Touch
• Space
• Eye Contact
• Paralanguage: tone, speed and volume of our voice.
Examples of Visual Communication

Session 4: Communication Cycle and the Importance of Feedback

For effective communication, it is important that the sender receives an acknowledgement from the receiver about
getting the message across. While a sender sends information, the receiver provides feedback on the received
message.
Types of Feedback
• Positive Feedback
• Negative Feedback
• No Feedback

A good feedback is one that is:

• Specific: Avoid general comments. Try to include examples to clarify your statement. Offering alternatives rather
than just giving advice allows the receiver to decide what to do with your feedback.

• Timely: Being prompt is the key, since feedback loses its impact if delayed for too long.
• Polite: While it is important to share feedback, the recipient should not feel offended by the language of the
feedback.
• Offering continuing support: Feedback sharing should be a continuous process. After offering feedback, let
recipients know you are available
for support.

Importance of Feedback
• It validates effective listening: The person providing the feedback knows they have been understood (or
received) and that their feedback
provides some value.

• It motivates: Feedback can motivate people to build better work relationships and continue the good work that is
being appreciated.

• It is always there: Every time you speak to a person, we communicate feedback so it is impossible not to provide
one.

• It boosts learning: Feedback is important to remain focussed on goals, plan better and develop improved
products and services.

• It improves performance: Feedback can help to form better decisions to improve and increase performance.

Session 5: Barriers to Effective Communication

What is Effective Communication?
Effective communication follows the basic principles of professional communication skills.

Barriers to Effective Communication

Physical Barriers
Physical barrier is the environmental and natural condition that act as a barrier in communication in sending
message from sender to receiver. Not being able to see gestures, posture and general body language can make
communication less effective.

Linguistic Barriers
The inability to communicate using a language is known as language barrier to communication. Language barriers
are the most common communication barriers, which cause misunderstandings misinterpretations between people
Interpersonal Barriers
Barriers to interpersonal communication occur when the sender’s message is received differently from how it was
intended.

Organisational Barriers
Organisations are designed on the basis of formal hierarchical structures that follow performance standards, rules
and regulations, procedures, policies, behavioural norms, etc. All these affect the free flow
of communication in organisations

Cultural Barriers
Cultural barriers is when people of different cultures are unable to understand each other’s customs, resulting in
inconveniences and difficulties.People sometimes make stereotypical assumptions about others based on their
cultural background

Ways to Overcome Barriers to Effective Communication

• Use simple language
• Do not form assumptions on culture, religion or geography
• Try to communicate in person as much as possible
• Use visuals
 • Take help of a translator to overcome differences in language
• Be respectful of other’s opinions

7 C's of Communication

Session 6: Writing Skills — Parts of Speech

Writing skills are part of verbal communication and include e-mails, letters, notes, articles, SMS/chat, blogs, etc.

Capitalisation Rules
Punctuation : Full stop, Comma, Question mark, Exclamation mark

Basic Parts of Speech

The part of speech indicates how a particular word functions in meaning as well as grammatically within the
sentence. Some examples are nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs ,adverbs , Conjunctions, Prepositions,
Interjections

Session 7: Writing Skills — Sentences Active and Passive Sentences

Types of Sentences
1. Statement or Declarative Sentence
2. Question or Interrogative Sentence
3. Emotion/Reaction or Exclamatory Sentence
4. Order or Impe rative Sentence
 UNIT2: SELF-MANAGEMENT SKILLS
Self-Management Skills are those skills that help a person to control his thoughts, wants, feelings and
actions. It allows you to maximize your productivity and performance in various fields of your career. When
we talk about employability, Self-management skills help you to manage a good career path. It helps you
to overcome in many bad situations. Here in this article, we will discuss Stress and Stress Management
Techniques and also we will discuss how to work independently.

Following are some of the skills you must master to succeed in life:

• Self-awareness: Ask for honest feedback. Gather insights on your personality and work-
specific proficiencies. Think about your daily interactions and how you handled situations well or
could have handled them differently.

• Responsibility: Taking responsibility for your tasks is very important. Taking ownership is the step
towards self-development. For example, if you have been assigned a task by a teacher; ensure you take
complete ownership. Even if you are unable to complete the task on time, you must report it and then
correct it.

• Time Management: Prioritise the things you have to do. Remove waste and redundancy from work.
Make a time table and follow it diligently.

• Adaptability: Stay current with best practices and read up on new information always. Prepare yourself
for new changes, so that you can transition seamlessly.

Session 1: Stress Management

What is Stress?
Stress can be defined as our emotional, mental, physical and social reaction to any perceived demands or threats.
These demands or threats are called stressors. Stressors are the reason for stress.

For example,

• you are too close to the exams but feel unprepared.

• you are experiencing a loss of someone close in the family.

• you are worried about what people would think of you if you don’t dress well or cannot speak confidently.

Stress Management

Managing stress is about making a plan to be able to cope effectively with daily pressures. The ultimate
goal is to strike a balance between life, work, relationships, relaxation, and fun. By doing this, you are able
to deal with daily stress triggers and meet these challenges head-on.
Always keep in mind the ABC of stress management

A: Adversity or the stressful event

B: Beliefs or the way you respond to the event

C: Consequences or actions and outcomes of the event

Management Techniques

Here are a few simple stress management techniques.

• Time management: Proper time management is one of the most effective stress-relieving techniques.

• Physical exercise and fresh air: A healthy lifestyle is essential for students. Stress is generally lower in
people who maintain a healthy routine. Doing yoga, meditation and deep breathing exercises help in
proper blood circulation and relaxes the body. Even taking a walk or playing in the park will help you get a
lot of fresh oxygen, which will help you become more active.

• Healthy diet: Having a healthy diet will also help you reduce stress. Eating a balanced diet, such as Dal,
Roti, vegetables and fruits will give you the strength to do your daily work efficiently.

• Positivity: Focussing on negative aspects of life will add more stress. Instead, learn to look at the good
things and stay positive. For example, instead of feeling upset over a scoring less in a test, try to maintain
a positive attitude and look at ways to improve the next time.

• Sleep: We should get a good night’s sleep for at least 7 hours so that your brain and body gets
recharged to function better the next day.

• Holidays with family and friends: Going to a relative’s place, such as your grandparents’ house or a
new place during your summer vacations can help you break from the normal routine and come back
afresh.
Ability to Work Independently

If you can become a calm and relaxed person, you will have the ability to work independently, which
means.

1. becoming self-aware, self-monitoring, and self-correcting.

2. knowing what you need to do.

3. taking the initiative rather than being told what to do.

4. recognising your mistakes and not blaming others.

5. having the ability and the will to learn continuously.

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of
others.

• Emotional awareness : the ability to identify and name one’s own emotions.

• Harnessing emotions : the ability to harness and apply emotions to tasks like thinking and problem
solving.

• Managing emotions : the ability to regulate one’s own emotions when necessary and help others to do
the same.

Some steps to manage emotional intelligence are as given below.

• Understand your emotions: Observe your behaviour and note the things you need to work on. You can
then work on the things you need to improve.

• Rationalise: Do not take decisions abruptly; be rational in your thinking.

• Practise: Do meditation and yoga to keep yourself calm.

Session 2: Self-awareness — Strength and Weakness Analysis

Techniques for Identifying your Strengths and Weaknesses

 Finding Strengths (or abilities)

 Think of anything that you are always successful at.

 Think about what others like in you.
 Take out time and think about what you do well.

Finding Weaknesses

 Point out the areas where you struggle and the things you find difficult to do.
 Look at the feedback others usually give you.
 Be open to feedback and accept your weaknesses without feeling low about it. Take it as an area of improvement.

Difference between Interests and Abilities (Strengths)

Interests

1. Things that you like to do in your free time that make you happy. An acquired or natural capacity

2. Things you are curious about or would do even if no one asked you to do it.

3. Things you want to learn or would like to do in the future

Ability

1. An acquired or natural capacity

2. nable you to perform a particular job or task with considerable proficiency.

Session 3: Self-motivation
Self-motivation is simply the force within you that drives you to do things. Self-motivation is what pushes us
to achieve our goals, feel happy and improve our quality of life. In other words, it is our ability to do the
things that need to be done without someone or something influencing us.

Qualities of Self-motivated People

1. Know what they want from life

2. Are focussed
3. Know what is important
4. Are dedicated to fulfill their dreams

Building Self-motivation
 Find out your strengths
 Set and focus on your goals
 Develop a plan
 to achieve your goals
 Stay loyal to your goals

Session 4: Self-regulation — Goal Setting

Goals : They are a set of dreams with a deadline to get them, for example, saving pocket money to buy a favourite
mobile phone by a particular date.

Goal setting : It is all about finding and listing your goals and then planning on how to achieve them.

How to Set Goals?

We can use SMART method to set goals. SMART stands for:

• Specific : A specific and clear goal answers six questions. Who is involved in the goal? What do I want to do?
Where do I start? When do I start and finish? Which means do I use? Why am I doing this?

Not a specific goal: “I would learn to speak English.”

Specific goal: “I would learn to speak English fluently by joining coaching classes after my
school everyday, and in six months I will take part in the inter-school debate competition.”

Measureable : A measureable goal answers the questions “How much?”, “How many?” and “How do I know that I
have achieved results?”
Not measurable goal: “I want to be rich.”
Measurable goal: “I want to have 5 times more money than what I have today in my hand at the
end of this year.”

Achievable : Breaking down big goals into smaller parts will make the goal achievable. Bigger Goal: “I want to
become a teacher in my school.”

Realistic : A realistic goal would be something that we want to achieve and can work towards.

Example of unrealistic goal: “I will read my entire year’s syllabus in one day and get good
marks.”
Realistic goal: “I spend 3 hours every day of the year after school to revise my subjects to get
good marks in the exams.”

• Time bound : A SMART goal should have a timeframe by when the goal needs to be achieved.
This encourages us to take actions to completely fulfill the goals.

Not a time bound goal: “I want to lose 10 kg someday.”

Time bound goal: “I want to lose 10kg in the next 6 months.”

Session 5: Self-regulation — Time Management

Time Management and Its Importance

Time management is the thinking skill that helps you to
• complete tasks on time.
• make a daily timetable.
• make a good guess at how long it will take you to do something.
• submit homework and assignments on time.
• not waste time during the day.

Four Steps for Effective Time Management Organise

1.Organise: We plan our day to- day activities.
2. Pritortis: We make a to-do list that has all our activities and we rank them in the order of importance.
3. Control: We have a control over our activities and time.
4. Track: We identify and note where we have spent our time.
 UNIT 3: BASIC ICT SKILLS
Session 1: Basic Computer Operations
ICT skills help us to communicate, run our business and stay connected with our family and friends. Hence, every
person needs to acquire ICT skills and build them to stay updated with the latest software and applications (apps).

Computer Hardware and Software

A computer system consists of two main parts—
Hardware- The physical parts that we can see and touch are called hardware. It is the machinery of a computer.
These are the keyboard, monitor, CPU, etc.
Software: The part which cannot be seen but it makes hardware to work. Example: Windows, MS office etc.
Operating System (OS). This is the software that starts working as soon as we switch on a computer. It
displays the desktop on the monitor. Some of the most commonly used operating systems for laptops and
desktop are Ubuntu, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS.

Starting a Computer

To start a computer, press the Power button on the CPU. This will start the operating system and
display the desktop on the monitor.

Basic Functions performed when a computer starts a computer automatically runs a basic program called
BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) as soon as it is switched on or the power button is pushed on. The
BIOS first does a self-test. If the self-test shows that the system is fine, the BIOS will load the Operating
System.

Login and Logout

When you login to the computer with your login-ID and password (as shown in Figure 3.5), the
computer knows that you are an authorised person and allows you to work on the applications in the
computer.

Shutting Down a Computer

You can shut down the windows computer clicking Star button at the bottom left corner and then click
Shut Down. When you click Shut down, the Operating System will close all the applications and turn off the
computer.

Using the Keyboard

A keyboard is an input device used to type text, numbers and commands into the computer.

Function Keys

Keys labeled from F1 to F12 are function keys. You use them to perform specific functions.

(a) Control keys: Keys, such as Control (CTRL), SHIFT, SPACEBAR, ALT, CAPS LOCK and TAB, are
special control keys

(b) Enter key: The label on this key can be either ENTER or RETURN, depending on the brand
of computer that you are using. You use the ENTER or the RETURN key to move the cursor to the
beginning of a new line.
(c) Punctuation keys: Punctuation keys include keys for punctuation marks, such as colon (:), semicolon
(;), question mark (?), single quotation marks (‘ ’), and double quotation marks (“ ”). (d)

(d) Navigation keys: Keys, such as the arrow keys, HOME, END, PAGE UP, and PAGE DOWN are
navigation keys.

(e) Command keys: Keys, such as INSERT (INS), DELETE (DEL), and BACKSPACE are command
keys. When the INSERT key is turned ON, it helps you overwrite characters to the right of the
cursor

(f) Windows key: Pressing this key opens the Start menu

Using a Mouse
A small device that you can use to move, select and open items on your computer screen.

Roll Over or Hover

Some actions can be done by simply rolling over or hovering over an item. When you bring the mouse over
a file in File Explorer, it will show the details of that file

Point and Click

As you move the mouse on your desk, a pointer moves correspondingly on your screen.When you click a
particular file, it gets selected

Drag and Drop

To move an item, you need to click it, and then holding the mouse button down, move the item to a new
location. After you move the item to the new location, you release the mouse button. This is called drag
and drop.

Double-click
Double-clicking means to quickly click the left mouse button twice. When we double-click on a file, it will
open the file.
Session 2: Performing Basic File Operations

Files and Folders

All information stored in a computer is kept in files.Each file is given a file name and has a file name extension
that identifies the file type.Example: .txt, .jpg, .mp3.
A folder is a location where a group of files can be stored
Basic Shortcuts
CTRL+z — undo
CTRL+y — redo
CTRL+a — select all
CTRL+x — cut
CTRL+c — copy
CTRL+v — paste
CTRL+p — print
CTRL+s — save.
Session 3: Computer Care and Maintenance

Importance of Care and Maintenance of Computers

Taking care of electronic devices, such as computer and mobiles helps them to work properly.

Basic Tips for Taking Care of Devices

(i) Keyboard: You can clean a keyboard with a soft brush

(ii) Screen: You can wipe the screen with a soft cloth to remove any finger marks.

(iii) Handle devices carefully: Handle and move your laptop carefully and avoid dropping or banging it against a
hard surface.

(v) Keep the computer cool: If a computer, laptop or mobile device gets overheated, the internal parts can be
damaged. The CPU has an internal fan to keep it cool. We should make sure the fan is functioning.

(vi) Do not overcharge your battery: Sometimes we keep a device plugged in for charging even after it is fully
charged.This reduces the battery life. Always unplug the device once it
is charged 100%.

(vii) Always plug in devices carefully: Any device being connected to a laptop or computer such as a USB drive
or headphones, should be done gently. It should not be forced into the port.

(viii) Do not run too many programs at a time: When too many programs are running at the same time, the
computer can become slow and even crash.

Prepare a Maintenance Schedule

(a) Daily Maintenance

i. Clean up your e-mail inbox
ii. Download e-mail attachments and save in proper folders

(b) Weekly Maintenance

i. Clean your keyboard
ii. Clean your monitor
iii. Dust CPU and printer
iv. Backup your data to an external drive

(c) Monthly Maintenance

i. Transfer photographs to computer and delete from drive
ii. Organise photos into folders or albums
iii. Clean up ‘Download’ folder
iv. Uninstall unused programs and apps
v. Run disk-cleaner software
vi. Run full system virus scan

(d) Yearly/Annual Maintenance

(i) Clean up contacts list on social media accounts
(ii) Clean up e-mail contact list
(iii) Update your operating system
(iv) Check for expiry of anti-virus software and renew

Backup Your Data

Backing up data means to save the information present on your computer on another device, such as CD/DVD
drives Data can recovered from here in case the computer stops working completely. Computers can crash, humans
can make mistakes and natural disasters, such as floods can happen

Scanning and Cleaning Viruses

Sometimes computer viruses can enter a computer from such attacks we can install anti-virus software. This will
prevent any viruses from entering and will also clean any viruses that may enter our system before they affect the
data.
Increasing Computer Performance If we have been using a computer for a long time we
have a lot of unnecessary files and data, such as temporary files and images. When they use too much hard-disk
space, the performance of the computer goes down. It is important that we keep cleaning by removing any extra
files.

Removing SPAM from your Computer

Sometimes we get emails from companies who are advertising a product or trying to
attract you to their website. Such mails are called SPAM. We should never respond to SPAM and delete it on a
regular basis.

Session 4: Computer Security and Privacy

Threats to Computer
Threats are the ways in which personal information can be leaked from a computer without our knowledge.
(a) Theft: Theft means stealing of information or hardware. These may be of three types:
• Physical: Where a person may steal your desktop computer or laptop.
• Identity: Where a hacker steals your personal information and assumes your identity. Using this false identity, the
hacker can gain access to your account information or perform illegal activity.
• Software Piracy: This is stealing of software and includes using or distributing unlicensed and unauthorised
copies of a computer program or software.
(b) Virus: Viruses are computer programs that can damage the data and software programs or steal the information
stored on a computer. Major types of viruses are Worms and Trojan Horse.
Worms: These are viruses that replicate themselves and spread to all files once they
Information and Communication Technology Skills 81 attack a computer. This makes it very difficult to remove them.
Trojan Horse: A Trojan Horse disguises itself i.e., it appears to be a useful software program but once it reaches a
computer it starts behaving like a virus and destroying data.
• Online Predator: Online predators are people who trap you into inappropriate relationships.
They may be older people posing to be your age, bullying you into doing illegal activities
online and sometimes face to face.
• Internet Scams: Sometimes you may receive very attractive offers saying you have won huge money in a lottery
and that you can claim the prize by depositing a certain amount of money. When you deposit the money using credit
card or online banking, you not only lose the deposit money but your card/account information may be misused later.

Protecting your Data

(a) Use passwords to login to your computer: Use passwords that are difficult to guess. Passwords are difficult to
hack if they are a mix of small (For example ‘a b c d’) and capital letters (For example, ‘H J E R’), numbers (For
example ‘8 7 6 5’) and special characters
(For example, ’% ^ # $’). This would prevent unauthorised people from using your computer.
(b) Install Anti-virus and Firewall: Anti-viruses and Firewall monitor the data coming in and out of a computer and
prevent and viruses from entering. Anti-viruses can also detect and clean viruses that may have entered a computer.
(c) Encrypt Data: This is usually done by banks and companies in which important customer information is stored.
They can encrypt their entire hard disk using the encrypting feature in Windows (Bitlocker). This would force users to
use a decryption password (or key) before starting the computer thus preventing unauthorised usage.
(d) Secure sites: Give details of your credit card or bank account only on secure sites. See in the address bar of the
browser. If the site address starts with https://and a lock symbol, then it is safe to give your credit card and bank
details.

Unit 4: Entrepreneurial Skills

Topics to Study

 Entrepreneurship and society.

 Qualities and functions of an entrepreneur.
 Role and importance of an entrepreneur.
 The myth about entrepreneurship.
 Entrepreneurship as a career option.
Session 1: Entrepreneurship and Society
Entrepreneurs run their businesses in a market. The market has people who buy products and services
and people who sell them also. When people are buying and selling from each other, it is helpful for
everyone because everyone involved makes money. This is how entrepreneurs help in growing the area
and society they live in.
What do entrepreneurs do when they run their business?
Fulfil Customer Needs
Demand means a product or service that people want. Entrepreneurs find out what people want. Then,
they use their creativity to come up with a business idea that will meet that demand.

Use Local Materials

Entrepreneurs use the material and people available around them, to make products at low cost.
Help Society
Entrepreneurs have a positive relationship with society. They make profits through activities that
benefit society. Some entrepreneurs work towards saving the environment, some give money to build
schools and hospitals. This way, the people and area around them becomes better.
Create Jobs
With the growth of a business, entrepreneurs look for more people to help them. They buy more material,
and from more people. The also hire more people to work for them. In this way, more people have
jobs. Sharing of Wealth Wealth means having enough money to live a comfortable life. As entrepreneurs
grow their business, the people

Lower Price of Products

As more entrepreneurs sell the same product, the price of the product goes down. For example, when
more mobile phones were getting sold in India, the cost of the phone became lesser.

Bharti, the Jewellery Queen (A Story)

Bharti is a young woman from Bihar. Many girls in her area like to wear earrings. She buys jute from a
farmer and makes earrings from that. Her business is called Manavi Natural Handicrafts. She sees that
most women in her village do not work. So, she hires two women to help her. As her orders increase, she
buys more jute. She hires three more women to work for her. The farmer, and the women working for her
now earn more money.
Session 2: Qualities and Functions of an Entrepreneur

Qualities of an Entrepreneur
Session 3: Myths about Entrepreneurship

Misconceptions

1. The misconception is that every business idea needs to be unique or special.

2. The misconception we have is that a person needs a lot of money to start a business.

3. A misconception we have is that only a person having a big business is an entrepreneur.

4. A misconception we have is that entrepreneurs are born, not made.

Session 4: Entrepreneurship as a Career Option

A career is a line of work that a person takes for life. There are two ways a person can earn a living.
1. self-employment
2. wage employment

A person who becomes an entrepreneur goes through a career process. This process is as follows:
ENTER
When an entrepreneur is starting, they are just entering the market to do business.
For example, Sanjana is starting a small grocery store in a locality.
SURVIVE
There are many entrepreneurs in the market. The entrepreneur has to remain in a competitive
market.
For example, there are many other grocery stores in the area. Yet, Sanjana’s store survives
the competition and does well. She also expands the store to two more floors.
GROW
Once the business is stable, an entrepreneur thinks about expanding his or her business.
For example, after five years, Sanjana has opened a chain of four more grocery stores in the same city. In the
next two years, she plans to expand to tow other cities.

Unit 5: Green Skills

Session 1: Society and Environment

Over the years, with economic development, there has been an increase in environmental pollution. For
example, with the introduction of high input agriculture, we can grow more food by using
fertilisers, pesticides and hybrid crops. But it has led to soil and environmental degradation. We need to
plan the use of resources in a sustainable manner so that we and our future generations can enjoy a good
environment.

What is Sustainable Development?

Sustainable development is the development that satisfies the needs of the present without
compromising the capacity of future generations, guaranteeing the balance between economic growth,
care for the environment and social well-being.

Importance of Sustainable Development

Sustainable development is defined as ‘development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’ (World Commission on
Environment and Development, 1987). For example, sustainable agriculture consists of environment-
friendly methods of farming that allow the production of agricultural
crops or livestock without damage to human or natural systems. It also involves preventing the use of
chemicals so as to avoid adverse effects to soil, water and biodiversity.

Problems Related to Sustainable Development

Three major problems related to sustainable development are:

(a) Food: The amount of rich, fertile land needed to grow crops, such as wheat, rice, etc., is becoming less
as we are using up more and more land for other purposes. Soil nutrients are also getting depleted and
lots of chemicals are spoiling the soil due to use of chemical fertilisers.

(b) Water: We use fresh water from rivers and ponds for drinking and cleaning but dump garbage
into them. The rivers and ponds are getting polluted. This way after several years, we will have no
clean water for our use.

(c) Fuel: We are using a lot of wood from trees as fuels and for construction of homes and furniture. As
more and more trees are being cut, it is affecting the climate of the place. Extreme weather conditions,
such as floods, extreme cold or heat, are seen in many places, which affect the people living there.
Sustainable development includes
• reducing excessive use of resources and enhancing resource conservation;
• recycling and reuse of waste materials;
• scientific management of renewable resources, especially bio-resources;
• planting more trees; green grassy patches and trees to be interspersed between concrete buildings;
• using more environment friendly material or biodegradable material and
• use of technologies, which are environmental friendly and based on efficient use of resources.

Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were launched at the United Nations Sustainable Development
Summit in New York in September 2015, forming the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It has
set targets that the countries have to should work towards and achieve by 2030.

The 17 SDGs have been made with the aim to take care of important issues facing businesses,
governments and society. Some of these issues are poverty, gender
equality, water use, energy, climate change and biodiversity. Countries are now making policies
and regulations that will promote sustainable systems needed in all economic sectors to provide a
secure, affordable and sustainable economy.

Sustainable Development Initiatives

When plastics were banned by the municipal corporation of Mangalore, an innovator and entrepreneur Mr
Avasth Hedge found an eco-friendly alternative. He made a 100 per cent bio-degradable bag which can
dissolve in hot water and decompose in natural environment. This is now being used in many countries
and is going to help the environment.

Another innovative idea was to stop the use of plastics spoons, forks, etc. Narayana Peesapaty
made edible cutlery made out of a grain — these spoons can be eaten and even if they are not eaten they
will easily decompose in the soil enriching it

Sustainable Processes
Some practices, such as organic farming, vermi-composting and rainwater harvesting are being used to
help preserve the environment. Organic farming is where farmers do not use chemical pesticides and
fertilisers to increase their production. They use organic and natural fertilisers, such as cow dung to help in
growing crops. This helps in better quality chemical free crops while at the same time maintaining the soil
quality for future use.
Session 2: Our Role in Sustainable

Sustainable development can actually happen only when each one of us works towards it. We have to
become responsible environment citizens who can protect the environment through our own efforts. Here
are some basic ways in which people can help towards Sustainable Development Goals.
Quality Education
Education is the most important factors for sustainable development. Children who have gone to school
will be able to do jobs so that they can take care of themselves and their families. Education helps us
become aware of our role as a responsible citizen. We should
1. use the facilities present in our areas.
2. take our friends to school.
3. help friends study.
4. stop friends from dropping out of school.
Clean Water and Sanitation
We must make efforts to make India free of open defecation by building toilets and creating awareness
Towards sanitation.
Affordable and Clean Energy
Using solar power i.e., power generated using the sun does not cause pollution as it does not require
burning of non-renewable fuels, such as coal. We are making efforts to increase the solar power
generation so that our electricity needs are met and at the same time we do not pollute the environment
Decent Work and Economic Growth
We can
(a) study and find good jobs to take care of ourselves and our families.
(b) work hard and contribute to society.
(c) learn and develop skills so that we get add value in our community.
Reduced Inequalities
To reduce inequalities we can
1. be helpful to one another.
2. be friendly with everyone.
3. include everyone while working or playing.
4. help others by including everyone whether they are small or big, girl or boy, belong to any class or
caste.
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Creating Sustainable Cities
1. Save energy by switching off lights and fans when not in use.
2. Use natural light as much as possible.
3. Use energy-efficient lights (LED bulbs) and appliances.
Responsible Consumers and Producers
We can become responsible about our own environment by
1. reusing paper, glass, plastic, water, etc.
2. taking cloth bags to market carrying fruits and vegetables.
3. donate things we do not use such as clothes, books, furniture, food, etc.
4. Buy and eat seasonal fruits and vegetables from local growers.
5. Repair leaking taps and pipes to avoid wasting water.
6. Sort and treat garbage before disposing.
Protect Life Below Water
Tons of plastic is found in the seas, which is killing marine life. Protecting marine life, saving our oceans
from pollution is necessary to preserve the marine life.
Protect Life on Land
Cutting of trees is leading to soil erosion and making land dry and unusable for cultivation. Planting more
tree to replace the ones that we have cut is an important step towards sustainable development.