Growth has always been a favourite term, especially for the economists. Growth of the economy measured as GDP has become the gold standard. However, growth-oriented policies extract its own price. The environment is exploited. There are carbon dioxide emissions. There is damage to the land, water, air and biodiversity all over the world. Developing nations do require growth for raising the standard of living of their masses. To counter the consequences, it is necessary for the developed nations to decelerate. Energy and material use must be curtailed.

At the heart of degrowth movement, the idea is to encourage responsible consumption and discourage wastefulness. There should be recycling whenever possible. If denim requires more water, we can replace it by other fabric. We can promote plant-based alternatives. All this cannot wait. It has to be done expeditiously. Kallis, an economist from Spain, is a proponent of degrowth.

GDP cannot keep growing infinitely. A Covid pandamenic sent many economies into negative growth of double digits.

The world was not ready to face the pandemic. Health sector was weak because of years of underinvestment. Social sector allocation must improve. People lost their jobs, and they could not be utilised in other sectors where their services were needed, say in track and trace systems. There was no resilience. Growth economy has its weak spots. It can collapse in an emergency.

Gandhian philosophy of simple living resonates well with the degrowth concept.

Women do contribute by doing housekeeping, but they are uncompensated. It is necessary to put a value on such work.

We must understand that we are on a planet of finite resources. We have to stop ecological damage caused by growth policies. There are limits to growth. If the world population has to reach the living standards of Europe today, the resources required are what four planet earths could provide. Therefore, the rich have to slow down. The resources must be allocated to the social Sectors.

Degrowth will speed up as consumers change. Consumers must be environment-conscious. Charity begins at home. There should be sharing and borrowing. There should be recycling. If we pursue the growth relentlessly, it can uproot the tree that bears fruit for us.