Is Self-sustainability good?
“Self-sustainability is a quality of one’s independence, survivability applies to the future maintainability of one’s self-sustainability and indeed one’s existence” (157). Its purpose is not to wait for the opportunity to knock at one’s door but to create opportunities for their self by doing hard-labor and acquiring the qualities that are necessary to survive in life. It can also keep you waiting for the right opportunity, but keeping on making important preparations so that one is not found wanting when the opportunity comes. For us students it means continuing regular studies and making other preparations to do well on the examination, interview or group discussion.
Self-sustainable people are the makers and masters of their destiny. They never blame fate, circumstances or find fault with systems or society. They make their own tools and use them with great skill and concentration, focusing on their goal. Their success, achievement and creation bear the stamp of their personality. They are original in their ideas, innovative in their approach and become the torch-bearers for others.
They are always able to achieve their objectives because they are resolute, single-minded and self-disciplined. They know their relative strengths and weaknesses and use their energies in such a manner that their weaknesses are not exposed to others. Since they execute their plans themselves, they have some margin to manipulate things in that way.
Self-sustainability is the best support, best tool and, more often than not, the shortest way to success. Lord Buddha once said, “You are both friend and enemy of yourself. The heaven and the hell lie within you. It is up to you what you choose. You are your own lamp, guide and staff. Never depend on others. Be the makers of your destiny. Help yourself and the world will help you.” These lines remind us of the time-tested adage, “God helps those who helps themselves”. The Almighty has given every human being two hands to work and a mind to distinguish between good and bad. Why should one then try to walk on somebody else’s shoes?
There is a direct relationship between self-sustainability and success. Studying the way of working of highly successful people shows us that they imbibed the habit of being self-sustainable at an early age. Joel Salatin started his business of breeding and selling chickens and their eggs with small means but was able to multiply his sales “2.4-fold increase in per capita real income”. He managed his own affairs till his business grew so big that the FDA had to watch over his farm because it was providing to most of the USA’s chicken products. His dream when he was a child was to have his job on a farm and play with his animals every day. I think all his dreams come true.
Self-sustainability should not be misunderstood by isolation, arrogance or cynicism. It does not mean that one should remain aloof and should not seek help when it is necessary. As a matter of fact mutual help is the basis on which society is built. At times we need to seek others’ help and extend a helping hand to others who need it. A student needs guidance from his teachers, an employee needs cooperation from others, and passengers need the services of a driver. In other words, for various activities and tasks we need the services or help of others. Self-sustainability does not demand that we should not take such help.

It only demands that we should not depend on others for activities and actions that we are supposed to do ourselves. A student needs guidance of his teachers but he is supposed to learn his lessons, do his homework and build the level of intelligence and knowledge to pass the exams with his own efforts and hard-work. An income earner, “to be considered self-sufficient is if the family income is 200% over the poverty income”(1), for the family is supposed to enjoy the services available for various functions. Being self-sustainable for him means that he should earn enough to fulfil the needs of his family including himself.
Taking or seeking help because of being at some advantageous position of post, power, or self is exploitation. A honest and self-respecting person would never resort to such an action. Thus, being self-sustainable also brings self-respect. Self-sustainability does not stop people from helping others. It does not mean that we should do our work ourselves and tell others not to expect any help from us. On the contrary self-sustainable people become helpful by nature. They are not only able to finish their own work but also offer help to others. This is because they do not find doing any work straining or a difficult activity. They believe that work is worship. Therefore, self-sustainable people earn a reputation of being helpful. They are admired and befriended by others.
Self-sustainability is not confined to individuals and families. There are self-sustained villages, societies and nations. History tells us that before the Englishmen came to India as traders and became the rulers and exploited the country, almost each Indian village was a self-reliant unit. All the necessary items of consumption were produced in the village. There were farmers to grow cereals; pulses and fruits; weavers to make cloth; blacksmiths, tailors, cobblers and other artisans to take care of odd jobs. Goats, cattle, and other animals were domesticated for milk, transportation and work in the fields. The midwives took care of the childbirth needs of pregnant women and traditional doctors called vaids or hakims treated patients. Although some facilities were absent, yet the self-sufficiency was there. Because of being self-sufficient, our villages were peaceful and prosperous before the Britishers exploited them, broke their self- reliance and impoverished them.
Self-sufficient nations are generally considered that who have a food security for their population through local food grain production, have adequate sources to achieve the target growth of economy and has the proper means to maintain the security and integrity of the country “maximizing the net benefit to society when all costs and benefits of the practices are considered” (2). Lacking some of the resources like oil for power or some products does not take away from the self- sufficiency of a nation. A nation should be self-reliant in major parameters. Being self-reliant in food saves the country from hunger, famines and distress among people. Adequate defense helps the country maintain its independence.
Economic self- sufficiency maintains its growth to achieve the targets and improve the standard of living of people. Self-reliant nations not only prosper fast, but also are the most respected among nations. They dominate the regional and world politics and help other nations in many ways. In order to achieve self-reliance the nation has to make proper policies and implement them in right way utilizing its resources and adopting modern technology.
Self-reliance is not easy to acquire. It needs some degree of sacrifice to forgo ease and comfort to gear oneself up to get on with various types of activities. It needs a great sense of discipline to follow the given or set schedule to perform those activities. Parents and other elders in the family, and teachers play a great role in making children self-reliant. Self-reliance takes a lot of hard work and endeavor but it gives back much more.

Work Cited
Farmageddon. Dir. Kristin Canty. Perf. Linda Faillace, Adam Helfer, Joel Salatin, Mark McAfee, Eric Wagoner. Passion River Films. 2011. Film.
IDAHO Department of Labor (1999). "Definition of Self-sufficiency." Retrieved on 2014-03-31
Straeten, Katrien. What and Who is Self-Sufficient?. Belgium: Chirstopher Wallace Publishing, 1999. Print.
Tilman, David , and Kenneth Cassman. “Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices.” Insight Review Article. Mar.-Apr.2002: 1-7. Print.