Page 479 - Kaleidoscope Academic Conference Proceedings 2024

ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIERS ON SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT: A CONFIRMATORY FACTOR ANALYSIS APPROACH IN RURAL
COMMUNITIES

2
1
3
K M Baharul, Islam ; Archan, Mitra ; Asif, Khan
1
Professor and Chair Communication, Centre of Excellence in Public Policy and Government, Indian Institute of
Management Kashipur, Uttarakhand, India
2 Assistant Professor, School of Media Studies, Presidency University, Bangalore, India

3
Assistant Professor (Guest), Department of Social Work, University of Delhi, India

ABSTRACT social well-being, aiming to create a balanced and enduring
system. However, rural communities frequently encounter
Achieving sustainable development in rural communities is unique challenges that impede this balance. The unique
a global priority, yet it remains hampered by a range of challenges faced by rural communities include
environmental barriers. This research paper proposes to environmental degradation, limited access to resources, and
explore these barriers, utilizing the Human Development socio-economic constraints, which collectively hinder
Index (HDI) as a lens through which to interpret the sustainable development efforts. Soil erosion, for instance, is
ecological factors impacting the path to sustainable a prevalent issue that not only reduces agricultural
development in village communities. Our methodological productivity but also contributes to the loss of arable land,
approach is rooted in quantitative research techniques, exacerbating food insecurity [2]. Water scarcity, another
employing Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) on data critical barrier, affects both agricultural practices and daily
collected through surveys to gauge the correlation between living conditions, leading to adverse health outcomes and
the HDI and identified environmental impediments. The use economic instability [3]. Additionally, biodiversity loss can
of preliminary factor analysis will provide a groundwork for undermine ecosystem services, which are crucial for
the subsequent application of CFA, allowing for a agriculture and livelihoods in rural settings [4].
comprehensive assessment of our proposed correlation. In
detail, we propose to determine specific environmental Rural areas often lack the infrastructure and technological
barriers to sustainable development in rural areas, examine advancements found in urban centers, further complicating
their impact on the HDI, and explore potential solutions to efforts to promote sustainability. The lack of access to clean
these barriers. The findings will help policymakers and water, fuelwood, and other essential resources can
development practitioners understand the ecological significantly impact health and living standards, perpetuating
challenges rural communities face in pursuing sustainable cycles of poverty and inequality [5]. Limited educational
development, and will guide the implementation of effective opportunities and healthcare services in rural areas further
interventions to enhance their capability to overcome these exacerbate these challenges, making it difficult for
barriers. communities to break free from the cycle of poverty [6].
Moreover, the lack of economic diversification in rural areas
Keywords: Sustainable development, Environmental often results in an over-reliance on agriculture, which is
management, Rural areas, Human resource management highly susceptible to environmental changes and market
fluctuations [7]. This research aims to explore these
1. INTRODUCTION environmental barriers through the lens of the Human
Development Index (HDI), a composite measure that
Sustainable development has become an imperative global assesses health, education, and standard of living, to
objective, particularly as these areas are often hindered by understand their impact on sustainable development in rural
significant environmental barriers. Sustainable development, communities [8]. By addressing these barriers, the research
as defined by the World Commission on Environment and seeks to provide insights and recommendations for fostering
Development (1987) [1], seeks to meet the needs of the sustainable development in rural areas, ensuring their
present without compromising the ability of future resilience and long-term viability.
generations to meet their own needs. This multifaceted goal
integrates economic growth, environmental protection, and

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