Basic needs are the factors essential for us to live. To learn about these essential factors, let us first discuss about the people who lived in ancient times. 

People of the Stone Age lived in the jungle. They only needed air to breathe, water to quench their thirst and food for hunger. They could not survive without any of these factors. Therefore, air, water and food can be identified as basic human needs. 

Air - Fresh, clean air is needed for life. But exhaust fumes emitted by vehicles, smoke emitted by factories and smoke that gathers inside houses due to the lack of chimneys as well as cigarette smoke results in air pollution. Inhalation of this polluted air increases the risk of falling ill. Thus, the first basic human need is clean air. 

Water - Water is necessary for human survival. A bigger part of the earth is covered with oceans. Although there is sea water in abundance, we cannot use it in our day-today needs. Usable water is available only in the water resources such as rivers, inland reservoirs, ponds and springs. This water too can get polluted due to various reasons. Using polluted water is harmful. Everyone has to contribute and take responsibility for having clean water. 

Food - Food provides us with the nutrition that is required for energy, growth of the body and protection from disease. We should therefore, consume a clean, healthy and balanced diet that consists of all the nutrients in required amounts. Today various types of chemicals are used in the production of food. Since such chemicals are harmful to health, you have to be careful in choosing food. 

Let us go back to the discussion on people of ancient times. After air, water and food, which were their basic needs, gradually they thought of fulfilling other needs. 

For instance, people of the Stone Age used a cave or a tree burrow as a house to get protection from rain. They learned to make tools with stones or animal bones. They used these tools to hunt animals for food. They covered their body with leaves and animal skins which provided protection from bad weather. Thus their lifestyle underwent changes little by little. 

They became skilful at generating fire by striking two stones or rubbing two sticks together. This discovery led to great changes in their lives. Earlier they used to eat raw meat, but with this, they got used to burn meat and eat it. They improved their life step by step with inventions, experience and creativity, such as preserving meat by using honey etc. and preparing tidier and better clothes. 

The man of the Stone Age passed the nomad Age and stepped into the Agricultural Age and then the Industrial Age. In parallel with this progress of the social system, man’s need for houses diversified. 

Thus, the society becomes more complex, man began to have other needs in addition to his basic needs. These other needs can be physical needs such as houses, clothes, tools, vehicles etc. as well as mental and social needs like protection, love, education and recreational activities such as entertainment and sport. 

For a healthy life we must fulfill our basic and other needs. In addition, we also have desires. Desires are things that are not essential for life, but what we like to have. Some desires related to things that are really not necessary for us, or it may relate to unnecessary additional option of a necessary item. It may be produced in such an attractive way with components added to it which are not really required. Our desires are unlimited. We always desire to change what we have. But we should endeavour to control our desires and spend a better life. 

E.g. the following are two advertisements displayed at two book shops. 

Both erasers do the same function. Which eraser do you prefer? If you buy the perfumed one, you will be spending extra money unnecessarily. Now, do you understand that you will waste money if you are attracted towards such features. It is useful to have the talent to identify what gives best value for money. 

However, one person’s desire can be another’s need. 

E.g. imagine you loved a winter coat that you saw in a TV advertisement. It is just a desire for you. But it is an essential item for someone living in a cold country. 

So if you can match your desires with your needs, you will be able to spend a better life. Also, craving for certain desires can be harmful to you. 

E.g. if you eat toffees and chocolates often as you have a desire for them, you can develop cavities in your teeth. It might also make you a victim of diseases such as diabetes. 

We like to fulfill both our needs and desires. While the fulfillment of needs should be given priority, our desires too can be fulfilled if the required resources are available. But since the desires are unlimited, you must make sure that fulfilling them does no harm to you as well as others. 

4. In accordance with the law, social norms and moral values of the country.

- if you do something illegal such as stealing, when you do not have money to accomplish a desire, that is clearly wrong. 

5. Taking wise decisions in fulfilling your needs. 

- Everything shown in the media is not essential. They may be mere desires. Goods/ services are attractively presented in advertisements and promotions in order to increase their sales. You should have the ability to identify your needs and select them correctly. 

- Even if you have strong desires you should only choose what is essential-even if you have the financial capacity. 

6. Using available resources wisely without wasting them 

- As mentioned earlier, clean water is a limited resource. Therefore, it should not be wasted. You should make it a habit to close the taps after using. Thereby we can contribute to preserve water. 

Now we know.... 

The basic human needs are air, water and food. In life, we have to fulfill the basic needs as well as other needs such as housing, clothes, protection, love, education, rest etc. In addition to them, we have desires too. 

In order to lead a healthy life, we should be talented in controlling needs and desires from childhood itself. Nevertheless, in satisfying them, we should be concerned of our health, economic status, others’ rights, social norms, moral values and the law. And also we must make wise decisions, minimise wasting, when satisfying our needs and desires. 

Let us test our knowledge 

1. Name the basic needs of humans. 

2. Mention three other needs in addition to their basic needs. 

3. Mention the factors that you should consider when fulfilling your needs and desires.