INTRODUCTION:

A sustainable Society is one that ensures the Socio-economic development, vitality of humans life as well as culture and continue these for future generations in that particular Society. France academician Emile Durkheim has defined the concept of society as “an internally differentiated yet functionally integrated system, whose operations could be understood only from the point of view of the whole”. (Larry Ray, P.593). A society is consider as one State or one country in the world. India and Canada are the two major societies states in the world. Moreover, both are sustainable societies on the basis of various parameters. India consists of 29 states and 7 Union territories is an Asian continent state. In contrast, Canada consists of 10 Provinces and 3 territories is a North American continent state. In fact, India is the 7^th largest state in the world in the realm of area, which is 32, 87, 590 sq.km.

Whereas, Canada is the 2^nd largest state in the world in the realm of area, which is 99,84,670sq.km. This is the most striking geographical characteristic of the Canada because of its immense size (George Thomas Kurian, 2010, Vol.I, P.417). But compare to Canada, India’s population is more. In fact, Canada is a sparsely populated state. The majority of its land territory is being dominated by forest, tundra and rocky mountains. It is highly urbanized state with 82% of its people live in urban areas. It’s capital city is Ottawa and its largest cityis Toronto (Google, dated 09/03/2017). In contrast, majority people in India live in rural areas. Its capital city is New Delhi and its largest city is Mumbai (Google, dated 13/03/2017).

Like India, Canada is also a plural society. Unlike in India, immigration is more in Canada (Anil Dutta Mishra and GovindPrasad, 2003, P.1). There are many commonalities between these 2 countries such as liberal as well as parliamentary democracy, multiculturalism, human rights, pacifism, minority rights and federalism (G.Gopa Kumar, P.35). Moreover, both have adopted federation as a political form (Ronald L. Watts,P.68). However, in societal approach both are characterized by multilingual, multi ethnic and multi religious societies (TejPratap Singh, P.87). This paper is divided in to the following three perspectives for analysis.

I .Parliaments and Governments of both Societies:

Canada’s parliament institution is a bicameral legislature. It is also known as Parliament Hill, because it is there on the top of the Hill. It consists of House of Commons ad the Senate. The House of Commons is the lower chamber, which has 338 members strength. This house has 338 constituencies covering entire country. The Senate is an upper chamber, which has 105 members strength. It’s members retirement age is 75. But prior to 1965, the senators were appointed for life. The House of Commons tenure is for 4 years. The voters voting age is 18 years in order to cost their votes to elect this house members. More over, elections to this house is direct. Members representation in this house are roughly proportionate to population of entire state. Each constituency elects a single member to the commons. This house is important compare to the Senate because not only by itsdirect elected character but also by its role in the formation of the national Government for every four years term purpose.

The Senate seats filled in practice are those who have done special service to the party or less frequently the nation. Mostly, Senate membership given to the persons who are near end of their careers. Moreover, Senate house members representation is based on the Principle of equal regional representation. The Senate performs 3 basic functions such as in its legislative role its major work is the revision of major Government bills either those passed by the House of Commons or those introduced in the Senate. The second function is deliberative role; it provides a national forum for the discussion of Public issues in the house. On 2 days notice, a Senate member can start any debate with no time limits on any subject. The third basic function is investigative role. The Senate’s Committees conduct inquiries in order to look in to various issues.For example Foreign Affairs and International trade, Agriculture and Forestry, Aboriginal peoples, Banking as well as Trade and Commerce, Internal economy as well as Budgets and Administration, Energy as well as Environment and Natural resources, Legal and constitutional affairs, Human Rights etc. are the Committees of the Senate functioning for the development of Canada. The House of Commons is also having Committees which are very important. Each Committee consisting of small group of members. The Committees examine matters in greater depth than is possible in the House. The Committees report their conclusions of examinations and recommendations to the House. The Committees use to undertake studies on departments spending etc. Examples of this house Committees includes Veterans, Affairs, Agriculture as well asAgri-Food, Canadian Heritage, International Trade, citizenship as well as Immigration, Environment as well as sustainable Development, Status of Women, and Justice as well as Human Rights etc have been working for the development of Canada. There are Parliament’s joint Committees like library of Parliamentetc also existing for working of above mentioned purpose (www.parl.gc.ca, dated 23/4/017). The money bills originate in the House of Commons. After passing the bills in the Parliament for entire Canadian Society development, they will send to United Kingdom’s (UK) Governor general for royal assent (George Thomas Kurian, 2010,Vol.I, P.426.) Two Prime Ministers of India have addressed the joint sessions of the Canadian Parliament. One was Jawaharlal Nehru on 24/10/1949 and another one was Indira Gandhi on 19/06/1973.

The Government of Canada is a Federal Parliamentary representative democracy under constitutional monarchy. The head of state is UK’s crown Queen Elezebeth II. This monarch’s representative Governor General is carries out most of the federal royal duties in Canada. The present Governor General is David Johnston. This is because, although Canada has got its independence from UK on 01/07/1867. But still UK’s crown is the head of the state of Canada. The head of Government is the Prime Minister. Canada’s constitution is started operating from 17.04.1982 onwards. So, it has a parliamentary system of national Government has been working under constitutional monarchy. The federal Government in Canada will form based on the parliament’s House of Commons election results. For example, in 2015 election, the liberal party who has got majority in election formed the Government. The present Prime Minister of this Government is Mr. Justin Trudean. Conservative party of Canada is an opposition party in the lower house (Google, dated, 10.03.2017). So the federal Government has been working for the development of their entire Canada Society people.

Indian parliament like Canada is a bicameral legislative body. It consists of Lok Sabha, which is the lower house and the Rajya Sabha, which is an upper house. The Lok Sabha is also call as the House of the people and the Rajya Sabha is also call as Council of States. The Rajya Sabha has 250 members strength. Out of these, 238 are indirectly elected by29 states and 2 Uts legislatures for a 6 years terms purpose. The rest of 12 members are nominated by the President of India on the grounds of outstanding national service in different professions. The Lok Sabha has 545 members. Out of these, 543 are directly elected through election by the voters for a 5 year term purpose. The rest of 2 are Anglo Indian members who are nominated by the President to the Lok sabha (George Thomas Kurian,Vol.II, 2010, P.1070). Like Canada, Indian voters voting age is 18 years. Moreover, representatives of MPs are elected on a firstpast the post basis by single member constituencies for this house. Parliament is fashionably discusses about politics and society inside both houses. Traditionally the Parliament sits in 3 sessions such as winter, budget and monsoon. Parliamentary sessions use to telecast throughParliament’s Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha TV channels. The money bills and other financial bills originate in the Lok Sabha. Other legislative bills originate in either house of Parliament. After passing a bill in parliament, it has to goes to the President for assent of that bill to become a law. The President of India has also power to promulgate ordinances, subject to parliament’s approval (Vernon Hewitt and ShirinM.Rai). The Parliament has various Committees to look in to various matters development. So the parliament has been functioning for development of Indian Society.

Indian Government is a federal Parliamentary Constitutional Republic. The head of the state is President. The present incumbent President is Mr.Pranab Mukherjee. The head of Government is Prime Minister (PM). The present incumbent Prime Minister is Mr.Narendra Modi. However, India is a federation with a Parliamentary system governing under the constitution of India, which came in to force on 26/01/1950. This constitution serves as the country’s supreme legal document. Political executive branch of Indian Government consists of the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister (PM) and PM’s council of Ministers. In fact, PM exercises most political executive powers (Google, dated 14/3/2017). The Central Government is formed on the basis of parliament’s Lok Sabha elections. In that election, whatever political party or alliance parties wins majority of seats, be able to form the Government. The presentcentral Government is BharatiyaJanata Party led National Democratic Alliance, which has formed the Government on 26/5/2014 (Google, dated 23/04/2017). This Government has been working for the development of Indian Society people. It is evident that both India and Canada are sustainable societies because of their well built institutions of parliaments and governments existence in their countries.

II. Bilateral relations of India and Canada:

The Republic of India and Canada relations are the longstanding bilateral relations, which are built up on a mutual commitment to democracy, pluralism, people to people links and expanding economic engagement. Bilateral relations means having relations between these two countries sides, which effect their mutual benefits. Although, geographically India and Canada are far away from each other but they are closely connected with each other for both of their mutual benefits. It is also important to note that unlike India, Canada is one of an active foreign investor on the global front. It also receives a high degree of foreign investment from majority countries in the world. Initially, the relations between these two countries founded due to their memberships in United Nations organization (Anil Dutta Mishra and Govind Prasad, editors, 2003, P.2). Both are also member countries in Group of Twenty (G20) and world Trade Organization (WTO) etc. In fact, India and Canada are the 2 major economies in the world. But Canada is a developed country. Its currency is Canadian dollar. It is relying chiefly upon its abundant natural resources and well developed international trade networks. In fact, Canada is a member country of the North American Free Trade Agreement, Asia- Pacific Economic co-operation forum, G-8 and GIO etc(Google, dated 10/03/2017). In contrast, India is a developing country. Its currency is Indian rupee. India has a replete of natural resources. In India, Canada is representing by the High Commission of Canada office in New Delhi. More over, Canada has also offices of consulates general at Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai cities. Canada’s trade offices are there in Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata cities. In contrast, India is representing in Canada by a High Commission office in Ottawa.More over, India has also offices of consulates there at Toronto and Vancouver cities.

However, both India and Canada countries are the quintessentially partners in progress for their mutual development. At the political level, the relations in recent years are marked by regular interactions between these two countries at the highest level. Canada’sPrime Minister Jean Chretien has visited to India in 2003. After this, another PM Paul Martin has also visited to India in 2005. More over, Mr. Stephen Harper who was the PM of Canada from 6-2-2006 to 4-11-2015 has visited to India from 15^th to 18^th, November 2009. Because of this visit, both countries were signed on a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) to establish a joint study group to examine the feasibility of a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Another MOU signed between themwas for co-operation in energy as well as energy efficiency.This PM has visited to India again from 4^th to 9^th November, 2012. This time both have signed the MOU agreements regarding Information communication Technology and electronics for establishing a cooperation between them. Another MOU was signed between these two through theirs India’sDefense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Canada’s York University, which is there in Toronto for cooperation in the field of defense, science and technology. Indian PM, Dr. Manmohan Singh has visited to Canada’s Toronto city from 25^th to26^th June 2010 to attend the G20 summit. After this, in Canada both countries have signed a civil nuclear co-operation agreement and both countries have also signed three MOUs for cooperation in the realms of mining, culture and higher education (Google, dated 28/4/2017) . However, Indian PM, Dr.Manmohan Singh described the civil nuclear cooperation agreement as breaking new ground in the history of our co-operation in this sector. In contrast, Canada said that, “agreement will provide access for Canada’s nuclear industry to India’s expanding nuclear market”(Google, dated, 25/04/2017). Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, who has visited to Canada from 14^th to 16^th April, 2015. This visit has produced the path breaking agreement regarding the sale of Canada’s Uranium to India. Both countries have signed a MOU through India’s Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Canadian space Agency for mutual cooperation in the field of space etc. Both sides have agreed to elevate the bilateral relations to a strategic partnership. However, this happened because, the first India-Canada strategic dialogue was held in 2013 at Toronto and the second one in 2014 at New Delhi with a view giving long term strategic direction to the bilateral relationship (NafeyAbdul, Google, dated, 16/03/2017).

The Merchandise trade between India and Canada of 2015 reveals that Canada country has received imports from India regarding items such as Boilers as well as mechanical appliances etc( 8.43% ), mineral fuels as well as oils( 6.91%), Pearls as well as Precious Stones or Metals (6.75%), organic chemicals(6.41%), Woven clothing and apparel articles (5.66%), Pharmaceutical products(5.47%), Iron or steel articles(5.06%), textile articles etc(4.45%), knitted or crocheted apparel(4.16%) and finally, electrical machinery as well as equipment (3.64%). This reveals that the total exports from India to Canada was 56.94%. In contrast, Canada country has exported to India regarding items such as edible vegetables as well as roots and tubers( 36.06%), Pearls as well as precious stones or metals (12.33%), Fertilizers ( 8.59%), Ores as well as slag and ash (8.33%), paper as well as paper board( 6.22%), Mineral fuels as well as oils( 4.28%), Boilers as well as mechanical appliances etc( 4.28%), Aircraft and Spacecraft (4.28%),Wood pulp as well as paper or paper board scraps(4.17%), and finally electrical machinery and equipment(1.68%). This reveals that the total imports from Canada to India was 90.22% (Google, dated 16/03/2017). However this whole reveals that Canada’s exports to India are higher than India’s exports to Canada. Both countries have been importing each other for their sustenance in their each society.

III. Status of the level of Sustainability of both Societies:

The concept sustainable means able to be maintain at a certain rate or level, able to be uphold, able to continue over a period of time, able to be use in future, ability to be sustain and able to continue without causing damage. According to HasnaVancock, “Sustainability is a process which tells of a development of all aspects of human life affecting sustenance”. The history of sustainability can be traces humans dominated ecological systems of earliest civilizations to the present. This history is characterized by increasing success of some societies in the world.

Sustainability measurement for societies is a term that denotes the measurements are used on the quantitative basis for informing management of sustainability. The metrics used for the measurement of sustainability, which includes the sustainability of environmental, social and economic domains etc. for both individually and in various combinations are still evolving. Moreover, measurements include indicators, benchmarks, audits, indexes, accounting, assessment, appraisal and other reporting systems have been using for measurement of sustainability (Subroto Roy,2012,P.21).

A sustainable society has been around for decades. In 1981, Lester Russel Brown, who was the founder of world watch Institute etc has defined a sustainable society as “one that is able to satisfy its needs without diminishing the chance of future generations”. Democracy is an important principle for sustainable societies, if they want keep maintain consistently sustainability in their respective societies (Google, dated, 07/03/2017). However, the concept of sustainable development for a society country means economic development is conducted without depletion of natural resources. The world summit outcome document of United Nations 2005 reveals interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development as “economic development, social development and environmental protection” (Subroto Roy,2012,P.2). More over, the Brundt land report of United Nation’s world commission on environment and Development (WCED), which was published in 1987 says, “sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. In addition, its targets were multilateralism and interdependence of nations in the search for a sustainable development path.

However, United Nation’s General Assembly formally adopted universal, integrated and transformative 2030 agenda for sustainable development, which was a set of 17 sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) on 25-9-2015. This was adopted mainly to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. More over, theseset goals are to be implemented and achieved in all its 193 member states countries from the year 2016 to 2030(Google, dated 25/04/2017). The 17 goals come under 3 broad dimensions such as social, economic and environment. Moreover, under Social, there are 6 goals such as poverty, hunger as well as food security, health, education, gender equality as well as women empowerment, and wateras well as sanitation are mentioned. Under economic, 6 goals such as energy, economic growth, infrastructure and industrialization, inequality, cities, sustainable consumption as well as production mentioned. Finally, under environment, 5 goals such as climate change, oceans, Biodiversity as well as forests and desertification, peace as well as strong institutions and partnerships mentioned in order to achieve above mentioned purpose (www.un.org, dated 25.04.2017). India and Canada are also part of under this process in order to achieve these goals.

In order to know the status of the level of sustainability of India and Canada societies. It is necessary to see the data of the sustainable society Foundation. This foundation is there in Europe continent’s Netherlands state. This foundation has been measuring the status of the level of the sustainability of its selected 154 countries through its sustainable society Index. The countries included under this foundation for its investigation study are India, Canada, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Combodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Chad, Cuba, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Ghana, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mali, Netherlands, Niger, Oman, Poland, Pakistan, Russia, Syria, United Kingdom, United States etc. The foundation has selected 21 indicators for measurement of sustainability of these countries. Moreover, the 21 indicators are divided in order put them under three broad dimensions. Such as human wellbeing, environmental wellbeing and economic wellbeing. In addition, under human wellbeing, 3 categories are there, first one is basic needs, and under this, three indicators such as sufficient food, sufficient to drink and safe sanitation are selected. The second one is personal development as well as health. Under this, three indicators such as education, healthy life and gender equality are selected. The third category is well balanced society. Under this, 3 indicators such as income distribution, population growth and good governance are selected.

Under environmental wellbeing, two categories are there. First one is natural resources. Under this, 3 indicators such as biodiversity, renewable water resources and consumption are selected. The second category is climateand energy. Under this, indicators such as energy use, energy savings, green house gases and renewable energy are selected. Finally under economic well being dimension, two categories are there. The first one is transition. Under this, indicators such as organic farming and genuine savings are selected. The second one is economy. Under this, indicators such as GDP, employment and public debt are selected for measurement. The criteria to get the score of each of the 21 indicators for all 154 countries prescribed on a scale of 1 to10. One means not sustainable. 10 means sustainable. For example, suppose, if one country got I for an indicator which means not sustainable in that particular matter. If suppose one country got 10 for an indicator which means it is sustainable in that particular indicator matter. The question is how far India and Canada societies havegot sustainable under above parameters indicators.

Above mentioned foundation’s sustainable society index data of 2006-2016 reveals that under sufficient food, India has got 8.4 scale and Canada has got 10 scale. Under sufficient to drink, India has got 9 scale and Canada has got 10 scale. Under safe sanitation, India has got 3.6 scale, In contrast, Canada has got 10 scale. So compare toIndia, Canada has got sustained regarding these three matters. Under education, India got 6.5 scale and Canada got 9.3 scale. Under healthy life, India has got 6.4 scale and Canada has got 8.6 scale. Under gender equality, India has got 6.4 scale and Canada has got 7.4 scale. Both are not got sustainable regarding these three indicators matters. But compare to India, Canada’s performance was better.

Under income distribution, India has got 6.9 scale and Canada has got 6 scale. Under population growth, India has got 5.3 scale and Canada got again 6 scale. Under good governance, India has got 4.4 scale and Canada has got 8.2 scale. Under biodiversity, India has got 5.7 scale and Canada has got 5.6 scale. Under renewable water resources, India has got 6.6 scale and Canada has got 9.9 scale. Under consumption, India has got 8.2 scale and Canada has got only 1 scale. Which means Canada is not sustainable regarding consumption of natural resources. Under energy use, India has got 8.9 scale and Canada has got only 1 scale. Which means Canada is not sustainable regarding this indicator matter. Under energy savings, India has got 1 scale and Canada has got 6.4 scale. Here, India is not sustainable regarding energy savings indicator matter. Under greenhouse gases, India has got 8.7 scale and Canada has got only 1 scale. Which means Canada is not sustainable regarding this indicator matter. Under renewable energy, India got 2.8 scale and Canada got only 1.6 scale. Both scored very less regarding this matter. But compare to Canada, India’s score is slightly better.

Under organic farming, India has got only 1.9 scale and Canada has got 3.1 scale. Under genuine savings, India has got 9.3 scale and Canada has got 7.5 scale. Under Grass Domestic Product (GDP), India has got only 2.9 scale and Canada has got 9.5 scale. Compare to India, Canada’s performance is better regarding this indicator matter. Under employment, India has got 7 scale and Canada has got 4.5 scale. Finally, under public debt ,India has got 3.1 scale and Canada has got 1.2 scale (www.ssfindex.com, dated 16/3/2017). Compare to Canada, India’s performance is slightly better regarding this indicator matter. However, this above whole data reveals that India did not got sustainable even a single indicator matter out of 21 indicators. Where as Canada has got sustainable regarding three indicators matters. India needs to work for all 21 indicators matters in orderto achieving the process of a sustainable society. The data also reveals that India did not sustainable regarding energy savings. So, India has needs to work more in this matter. In contrast, Canada did not got sustainable regarding consumption, energy use and greenhouse gases. So, Canada has needs to work more regarding these matters for achieving a sustainable society. Canada has also needs to work for the remaining 12 indicators matters in order to achieve the process of a sustainable society.

CONCLUSION:

To sum up this, it is observed that both India and Canada are sustainable societies in the world. But compare to India, presently Canada is a more sustainable society. India is a full sovereign state society and Canada is not a full sovereign state society because still United Kingdom’s crown is head of Canada country. Both societies are exporting and importing each other for their mutual sustenance. But compare to India, Canadian exports to India are more. As per sustainable society foundation data revealed that, out of 21 indicators matters ,Canadahas got sustainable regarding three indicators matters. In contrast, India did not got a sustainable even a single indicator matter issue. Compare to Canada, Indian society has to work more in order to consistently maintain a sustainable society.

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Received on 06.04.2018 Modified on 30.04.2018

Res. J. Humanities and Social Sciences. 2018; 9(3): 615-620.

DOI: 10.5958/2321-5828.2018.00103.1