Unit : 05

Module 39 : Role of NGO’s in implementing

environmental laws

Learning objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

 Learn the different NGOs working for environment
 Understand how NGOs are instrumental in implementing the environmental
laws

Introduction

India is the second most populous nation on the planet. Large population base and
rapid economic growth have led to environmental issues and problems, notably with
regard to air and water pollution, logging, and the rapid loss of natural resources. India
must act right away to stop the environmental destruction.

Sustainable environmental practices must be improved in India. Sustainable

development, according to the World Commission on Environment and Development, is
growth that satisfies the current demands without jeopardizing the needs of future
generations. Environmental sustainability is the long-term upkeep or improvement of
environmental quality.

Need of NGOs

India's economy has had amazing progress since independence, with

improvements in healthcare, education, eradicating poverty, and general level of living.
However, in some places, women, children, and underprivileged people continue to be
excluded from the development process. This continues to be a problem. The increase
of Naxalism, recurrent violence in reservations, and an increase in farmer suicides are
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some of the negative effects of unequal growth. According to the UNDP's 2020 Human
Development Index (Figure 1), India is ranked 131st out of 189 nations.

Figure 1 Human Development Index Word cloud

According to the Global Hunger Index (Figure 2) for 2020, 14% of Indians are
undernourished. The country's child stunting rate was 37.4%, according to the report.
India was ranked 94th out of 107 nations in the index.

Figure 2 Global Hunger Index

In such circumstances, civil society is essential in raising awareness of people's
issues and ensuring that minorities are not overlooked. The civil society must participate
constructively and cooperatively in the state's numerous plans and initiatives for
development. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a significant role in the social
development processes of the society as the operational arm of civil society.
History

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 Voluntary organizations with a goal to enhance social welfare, literacy, and relief
programs arose in India during the British Empire. The history of NGOs can be traced
back to Mahatma Gandhi's mission to promote rural self-sufficiency, which resulted in the
establishment of the Central Social Welfare Board in 1953, the National Community
Development Program in 1954, the National Extension Services in 1956, and the three-
tier Panchayati Raj System in 1958. The Association for Voluntary Agencies for Rural
Development (AVARD) was subsequently founded as a coalition of significant voluntary
organizations. NGO organizations have grown extraordinarily over the years, particularly
in the 1970s and 1980s. The 1990s also saw a tremendous increase in the number of
nonprofit organizations, with the civic society taking a keen interest in their growth and
advancement. During the past few decades of the twenty-first century, there has been
notable international funding and support from international donors.

NGO – India
The three primary categories of NGOs in India are societies, trusts, and charity
corporations. Non-governmental groups may get money from governments, foundations,
businesses, and private citizens (NGOs). It is difficult to overstate the importance of the
NGO as a concept in theory and in practice, as a dynamic way to ensure that the concerns
of the citizens of this country receive protection in terms of the rule of law. India is the
largest democracy in the world, the seventh largest country in terms of land area, and the
second most populous country in the world. The Indian Constitution is a remarkable
source of essential fundamental rights for the defense of people's rights. In their crucial
function of assisting people in India in enforcing their rights, NGOs heavily rely on these
rights together with the guiding principles of state policy.
Our natural resources are dispersed across the entire earth's surface, among
human settlements, and in inhospitable isolated locations. Therefore, it is impossible to
maintain or care for those resources in the greatest possible way for anyone other than
governmental entities. At this moment, NGOs enter the picture. NGOs are groups of
people who are committed to achieving specific goals and who operate the organization
(Figure 3). They focus on issues including analyzing resource requirements, planning
resource management, and comprehending the internal relationships between distinct
natural resources. They also assist the government in gathering pertinent data to support
and facilitate the execution of significant environmental programs.
Environmental awareness and enforcement are more important than ever before,
and they must be done immediately. In order to conserve the environment, NGOs and
the general public need to be aware of its importance.
The NGOs' areas of action in environmental protection include raising public
awareness, developing resources and documentation, introducing alternative livelihoods,
coordinating with various governmental agencies, managing and restoring habitat, etc.

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Numerous NGOs are working for the aforementioned cause on a global, national, and
regional scale.

Figure 3 NGOs
Environmental awareness and enforcement are more important than ever before,
and they must be done immediately. In order to conserve the environment, NGOs and
the general public need to be aware of its importance.
The NGOs' areas of action in environmental protection include raising public
awareness, developing resources and documentation, introducing alternative livelihoods,
coordinating with various governmental agencies, managing and restoring habitat, etc.
Numerous NGOs are working for the aforementioned cause on a global, national, and
regional scale.

NGOs presence in India

The list of NGOs in India, that work in the field of environmental conservation and
ecology are presented below:
i. Tropical Research and development centre (TRDC)
This environmental NGO works to protect the environment and preserve natural
resources for future generations. The goal of TRDC (Figure 4), which was founded in
1994, is to make natural resources accessible to everyone, without exception. Through

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education, awareness, and conservation, this non-profit organization with its
headquarters in Bengaluru seeks to promote development principles.

Figure 4 TRDC
The TRDC-Paryavaran initiative, which has been implemented in a few Karnataka
districts, aims to combat the problems caused by environmental deterioration and climate
change. The project also intends to improve and conserve the local flora and fauna,
revitalize the water resources, and include farmers and the younger generation in the fight
to preserve natural resources.
ii. Centre for Environmental Education (CEE)
Their primary goals are to raise environmental consciousness among the
populace, carry out extensive environmental education, and train programmers using a
very extensive network which is carried out by Centre for Environmental Education (CEE)
(Figure 5).

Figure 5 CEE
iii. CPR Environmental Education Centre (C.P.Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation)
CPR Environmental Education Centre (C.P.Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation) (Figure
6) encourages the creation and dissemination of fundamental environmental education
and reference materials as well as undertaking of environmental projects. In the area of
environmental education, it is effective.

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 Figure 6 CPR Environmental Education centre
iv. Assam Science Society
Assam Science Society (Figure 7) through teacher and student camps and
environmental surveys, they provide environmental education and training.

Figure 7 Assam Science Society

v. Bombay Natural History Society
Bombay Natural History Society (Figure 8) aims to disseminate knowledge of flora
and fauna by means of lectures, field trips, literature and expeditions.

Figure 8 Bombay Natural History Society

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 It also studies issues relating to wildlife and makes management plans,
recommendations to protect wildlife and its habitat. It carries out field studies on bird
migration as well as investigations into the movement and population dynamics of the
Indian avifauna.
vi. Kerala Sastra Sahitiya Parishad
The objective of Kerala Sastra Sahitiya Parishad (Figure 9) is to protect the
environment, to offer other development models, and to make science more accessible
to the general public.

Figure 9 Kerala Sastra Sahitiya Parishad

They have contributed to eco-development by raising awareness of the need to
conserve energy and water and by promoting the use of unconventional fuels like
smokeless chulhas, among other things.
vii. Kalpavriksh
Kalpavriksh (Figure 10) is a citizen action group created to foster awareness and
concern for environmental issues, particularly among young people. Additionally, it
aspires to perform environmental problem research, advocate for environmental causes,
and develop a comprehensive environmental perspective.

Figure 10 Kalpavriksh
By creating a network of nature clubs, leading bird watching excursions and nature
hikes, and creating workbooks for the school level, it provides environmental education
in schools and universities.

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viii. Narmada Bachao Andalon
Narmada Bachao Andalon (Figure 11) was founded in 1986 with Medha Patkar as
in charge. Its principal objective is to inform those most directly impacted by major
development projects—such as tribal members—about their social and environmental
effects.

Figure 11 Narmada Bachao Andalon

The objectives are:
• to raise awareness about the right to information and a new, environmentally
friendly water policy
• to protest against the building of dams generally in the Narmada Valley
• to enable the indigenous people to make use of the government's development
programs and services.
• The Narmada Valley's population are primarily educated, mobilized, and organized
on issues connected to human rights and justice, alternative development
strategies, and environmental concerns with large dams in general and the
Narmada project in particular.
• They are battling against eviction and disdain for human rights.
ix. Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT)
FRLHT (Figure 12) is a cutting-edge knowledge organization with a mission to
revive Indian medical history.

Figure 12 FRLHT

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The three main focuses of the work of FRLHT are:
• Preserving the natural resources employed in Indian medical systems
• Establish the usefulness of traditional knowledge in the present
• Revitalizing social mechanisms for passing down inheritance
x. SankalpTaru Foundation
SankalpTaru Foundation (Figure 13), an environmental NGO is a prime illustration
of how digital platforms may be utilized for environmental preservation and protection.

Figure 13 SankalpTaru Foundation

An e-NGO called SankalpTaru seeks to encourage tree planting throughout the
nation. The NGO operates in 21 Indian states. SankalpTaru is able to deploy cutting-
edge technology, such GPS-tagging and others, because the plantation drive is
conducted on a digital platform. Volunteers can monitor the advancement of planting
drives in this way. Millions of trees have already been planted since Apurva Bhandari
founded SankapTaru in 2013.
xi. Chintan environmental research and action group
Chintan (Figure 14) is dedicated to encouraging sustainable and equitable growth
for every member of society.

Figure 14 Chintan

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 By promoting responsible and sustainable consumption, Chintan seeks to save the
environment. The founder, Bharati Chaturvedi, is a passionate writer who has written
several influential pieces supporting environmental preservation. At Chintan, they work to
improve waste management, encourage sustainable consumption, and lessen excess
garbage. By raising awareness, they also speak out against air pollution. Promoting
sustainable consumption and waste management is done primarily to help the weaker
and more marginalized members of society by giving them resources. Chintan, one of
India's leading environmental NGOs, manages more than 30 tonnes of solid and
electronic garbage daily in and around Delhi. The trash that is gathered from each
doorstep is sorted and recycled. In order to rid the environment of such hazardous waste
and build a better future for future generations, they collaborate with garbage collectors
and volunteers.
xii. Janmitran Kalyan Samiti
With the intention of collaborating with the government and neighborhood-based
organizations to promote community development, Janmitran Kalyan Samiti (Figure 15)
was founded in 2002.

Figure 15 Janmitran Kalyan Samiti

In collaboration with NABARD, they have successfully established more than 925
orchards through their Wadi Development Program, giving the tribal people a means of
subsistence and meeting other essential necessities. The project's most surprising
success is that farmers can now cultivate more crops on fertile land that was before barren
and it provided a better way of life. Thus it supported and protected both the environment
and people at the same time. Another project of the NGO is the Watershed Program,
which intends to conduct soil and water conservation efforts in designated NGO-owned
regions. To ensure the growth of the community as a whole, they also endeavor to
strengthen the skills and train the natives and tribe members.

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xiii. Gram Chetna Kendra
The Gram Chetna Kendra (Figure 16) has taken on the duty of offering answers to
water difficulties in light of the repeated harms that droughts have caused in Rajasthan.

Figure 16 Gram Chetna Kendra

Many tanks and pools have been constructed for rainwater harvesting to relieve
water scarcity in certain Rajasthan's rural districts, ensuring the year-round availability of
drinking water. They have also built public restrooms in several locations to encourage
better sanitation facilities and in turn a cleaner environment. Their Livelihood Promotion
Project intends to inform and assist local farmers in carrying out resource-efficient
consumption, sustainable water use for irrigation, and the use of cutting-edge yet secure
technologies for farming. This Indian NGO works to safeguard the environment, also
supports value chains and environmentally sustainable methods of manufacturing.

Environmental NGOs

Typically, environmental NGOs focus on issues like Climate Change, Air Pollution,
Deforestation, Ozone Layer Depletion, Waste Management, Biodiversity and Land Use,
Energy, Conservation, Environmental Degradation, and Land Degradation. Many eNGOs
have begun working with the government and business to build a solid foundation for
expansion in the future. In addition to actively working with the government on formulating
policies for environmentally friendly and sustainable development, these organizations
offer consulting services to businesses and industrial enterprises.
To carry out their corporate social responsibilities, certain businesses are working
with NGOs. Environmental NGOs are able to carry out tasks better thanks to the power
of the media and judicial activism, which may not have been possible otherwise. Over the
past few decades, the significance of environmental NGOs as important players in
environmental causes has grown. The majority of environmental NGOs began as modest
groups that concentrated on one or a few of the issues such as: education and training,
environmental research, environmental monitoring, air or water pollution, land
degradation, waste management, toxic and chemical waste, saving wildlife, and eco-
sensitive zones.

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 Some of the environmental NGO working in India are given in Table 1.
Table 1 eNGOs

Name Focus

Greenpeace India Climate Change, Toxic Waste, Nuclear Safety,

Overfishing Protection, Environment
degradation

CERE India Environment Education, Awareness and

Advocacy

EXNORA International Preserving Nature, Presenting Environment

degradation, Waste Mgmt.

AWAAZ foundation Air Pollution, Toxic Heavy Metal, Protection of

Tress, Noise Pollution

Foundation for Ecological Conserve Ecologically sensitive area, Land &

Security water resources

Goa Foundation Environment education, solid waste

management, statutory responsibility

CSE India Environment awareness, propose sustainable

solution, climate change, air pollution, water
management, education and training, food
safety

WWF India Conservation, wasteful consumption of

resource, minimizing water pollution, reduction
of toxic waste and management of toxic waste

CONSERVE India Waste management, upcycling

Winrock International India Natural resource management, energy and

environment, climate change

Public interest litigation (PIL)

One of the effective instruments being utilized by the eNGO to enforce
environmental laws, or to reform or modify laws pertaining to environmental issues. PIL
refers to any legal action taken to defend the public interest in the Indian context.

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 The rise in judicial activism over the past few decades is related to the increase in
public interest lawsuits. PIL has developed as a favoured tool in the struggle for
environmental sustainability. For instance, a PIL filed in the Delhi High Court by the Tapas
NGO resulted in the ban of plastic in Delhi beginning in January 2009.
The introduction of biodegradable and jute bags had a good effect on Delhi's
attempt to go green. The NGO put a lot of effort into educating the public about the use
of plastic bags. They displayed 20,000 posters and staged demonstrations at Jantar
Mantar to encourage people to support the ban on plastic bags. RTI – The Right to
Information Act of 2005 (RTI) gives the general public and NGOs the authority to request
information from "Public Authorities" (Government Departments). These laws give
ENGOs the authority to look for pertinent information, including information on laws and
regulations, government actions pertaining to environmental issues, and more. As a
result, the general public or society as a whole becomes more aware of the rights, and if
any legislation is broken by people or businesses, this tool can be used as proof of wrong
doing. For instance, a Rohit Prajapati-run NGO submitted an RTI request to the Gujarat
State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) in June 2010 regarding their emergency
chemical disaster management strategy. This was crucial because Gujarat is home to
numerous chemical manufacturers and plants. Chemical accidents can be extremely
lethal, as was the case with the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, which claimed the lives of over
30,000 people. The lack of a plan to deal with these tragedies was made known to the
public through the RTI procedure.

Need for collaboration – Government Industry NGOs

Government and eNGO collaboration

The government, whether at the federal or state level, is one of the key
stakeholders in the environment issue.
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate change (MoEF), Central and
State Pollution Boards, and other relevant departments must cooperate with ENGOs.
ENGO should work together to promote greater accountability and transparency, act as
watchdogs to ensure that policies are being implemented in good faith, act as pressure
groups for the enforcement of pertinent laws, work to provide solutions for environmental
sustainability, support public participation in government programs, and provide technical
and other assistance. Government and NGOs should work together (Figure 17) to build
a safe and environmentally friendly future for the nation. For instance, the MoEF
established an NGO cell in May 1992 to support both new and current NGOs. The cell
also serves as a one-stop shop for all NGO-related operations carried out by several
Ministry divisions. 223 NGOs have been accredited by the West Bengal Pollution Control
Board to advance environmental causes in the Bengali state. Additionally, the state
government consults with NGOs regarding programs for environmental awareness.

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 Figure 17 Collaboration the need of the hour
Industry and NGO Collaboration
Businesses and industries are crucial to the expansion and prosperity of every
nation. However, businesses engaged in mining, chemicals and fertilizers, paper and
pulp, leather, steel, and cement, as well as construction and infrastructure firms, have
had a significant negative impact on the environment. The sustainability of the
environment has been made more difficult by ongoing development and mining in
environmentally sensitive areas, water and air pollution, deforestation, and hazardous
wastes.
There are number of Government laws and regulation in place such as,
• The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 -The Ozone Depleting Substance
(Regulation & Control) Rules, 2000, Hazardous Waste (Management &
Handling) Rules, 1989, Biomedical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules
1998,
• The Mines (Amendment) Bill, 2011,
• The Indian Fisheries Act, 1897 ,
• The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974,
• The Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981,
• The Indian Forest Act, 1927,
• Forest Conservation Act 1980 with amendments made in 1988 etc.
But despite this, factories and corporations continue to break the law in order to
achieve short-term advantages. Due to this, the role of ENGO is crucial, in addition to the
steps taken by the government and courts to implement these laws. Corporations and
ENGOs are becoming more aware of the need to collaborate in order to achieve the
overarching goal of developing environmentally friendly and sustainable products for the
market. An increasing number of businesses in India are having strategic conversations
with ENGOs about product creation, business operations, project management,
marketing, and recycling. On the subject of corporate social responsibility, there is also a

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growing relationship between corporate entities and ENGOs. ENGOs serve as a business
tool to fulfill its corporate social obligation.
For instance, PepsiCo and NGO Exnora collaborated to develop a repeatable
strategy that can be used in places like Chennai, Panipat, Cuddalore, and others to solve
communal garbage. Few NGOs are accused of using foreign donations in the recent
instance of the nuclear plant at Koodankulum (Tamil Naidu) to incite anxiety among the
local populace about the threat of nuclear weapons. According to one estimate, there are
projects worth Rs 300 billion that are stalled in crucial infrastructure sectors like mining
and power because of small objections and bottlenecks made by environmental NGOs
through PIL, protests, etc. Some of the NGOs are also supported by business entities
who utilize them as a platform to negotiate advantageous terms or as a weapon to take
out their rivals and enemies.
For instance, a writ petition demanding the closure of an asbestos plant in Gujarat
was brought on the grounds that it is dangerous to humans in the case of Kalyaneshwari
Vs. Union of India. The courts ultimately determined that the petition was filed under the
guise of public safety, not out of any concern for human health, and that the true
motivation was to promote asbestos replacement. Ultimately, the court dismissed the
argument and imposed a fine of Rs 100,000 on the plaintiff. In another instance, a Delhi-
based local NGO was fined Rs. 75,000 by the court for bringing bogus lawsuits and
abusing the RTI system in order to attack municipal corporation of Delhi officials. It is
alarming that more and more NGOs are employing unethical methods; this trend needs
to be stopped. In order to reform environmental laws and regulations and to ensure that
they are being enforced, environmental NGOs have arisen as one of the most powerful
external pressure groups. For instance, very few ENGOs are actively involved in
educating the rural population about indoor pollution, which claims the lives of thousands
of people each year in India. Other examples include the cleanup of rivers like the Ganga
or the Yamuna. The reason why the majority of NGOs choose to target MNCs and large
firms is because doing so gives them instant access to the media, which is eager to cover
these contentious issues.
For example, the issue of pesticide residue in soft drink bottles was exaggerated,
and the media quickly picked it up. However, the contaminated ground water that
everyone was drinking should have been the primary concern from the start. As a result,
the pesticide residue was also found in drinking water and milk, but MNCs were called
out - rather than the Municipal Corporation or the government as a whole—which is
responsible for ensuring that its residents have access to clean drinking water.

Role of NGO’S in Environment Protection

International environmental policy is shaped through interactions between

governments and internal intergovernmental organizations, which are made up of
nongovernmental organizations (NGO). Their roles include

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 • raising public awareness of contemporary environmental problems and
solutions.
• assisting different stakeholder groups in participating in the discussion of
environmental issues.
• Participatory rural appraisal
• being active in defending people's rights to a clean environment.
• ensuring equitable use of resources while safeguarding natural resources.
• production of data on natural resources and village history timelines.
• Information dissemination through publications, pamphlets, essays,
audiovisuals, etc.
• Organizing lectures, seminars, and focus groups to spread environmental
awareness.
• Assisting the administrative staff in the communities with project planning,
application, and execution for environmental protection.
• Examination and observation of environmental quality.
NGOs working for the environment in India have reduced soil erosion and
deforestation, and they also inform the public about the importance of separating
biodegradable garbage.
Limitations in the performance of environmental NGOs in India
The limitations in the performance of environmental NGOs in India include:
• Lack of qualified workers in the environmental protection industry.
• Lack of facilities for research and development.
• Financial limitations.
• Lack of support from the executive branch.
• Mobility issues caused by a lack of transportation options.
• Cultural hurdles- NGOs frequently face backlash for being perceived as
encroaching on people's centuries-old customs and cultures. For example, Ban
of Jallikattu, after the PIL by PETA
• Lack of proper networking- Lack of communication is caused by an inadequate
network. Poor networks lead to loss of opportunity to work with the community
and their participation.

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 • Lack of Volunteerism/Social work among Youth- due to the unattractiveness of
pay levels and employment prospects. Parents deter their kids from engaging
in social activities as well.
Thus, we find NGOs have played a prominent role – from raising awareness of
environmental issues and getting them on the international agenda, to influencing
outcomes, implementing decisions, and monitoring state commitments.

Summary

In this module we have

 Learnt the different NGOs working for environment
 Understood how NGOs are instrumental in implementing the environmental
laws

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