FOUNDATION COURSE 2

INDIA’S DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES

FINAL ASSESSMENT

SUBMITTED BY

GONELA KRISHNA VAMSY – M2022LSP007

SECTION B

Q 5. Explain the varieties of environmentalism in India.

“Freedom in Commons brings ruin to all”

Garret Hardin in The Tragedy of Commons

Environmentalism seeks to restore the ecological balance and arose due to concerns of
environmental degradation due to unplanned industrialisation and development neglecting the fact that
we are living on the spaceship earth with finite resources. Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring ,The Limits to
Growth report of the Club of Rome in 1972 brought the environment problems to the fore as an issue of
global concern. The Stockholm Conference on Environment 1972, Rio Earth Summit of 1992 and the
UNFCC Paris Climate Deal of 2015 lay down a broad consensus on the need for collective global action to
address the environmental issues. The Convention on Biological Diversity 2002 and the Aichi
biodiversity targets seek to preserve biodiversity.

In India, the concern for environment can be traced back to Ashoka, emphasizing the
importance of planting trees in his rock edicts. In the modern times, Bishnoi movement under Amrita
Devi Bishnoi is an important landmark.

The Chipko movement of 1973 based on the Gandhian ideal of non violence sought arose out of
the ecological destabilization of the hills of Garhwal, Uttarakhand. Felling of trees was opposed fiercely,
especially by women by way of hugging the trees and spread of awareness by Sunderlal Bahuguna. The
movement was a success and laid the ground for further movements like the Apikko movement in
Karnataka. India also witnessed Silent Valley movemet in Kerala, Naramada Bachao Andolan,
Gandhamardhan environmental protection and Niyamgiri hill tribes protest in Odisha, Koel karo
movement in Jharkhand etc.

The environmentalism in India is said to based on utilitarian conservation rather than

protectionist conservation. Unlike in the West, where environmental movements are a form of New
Social Movements seeking to conserve and protect environment to improve quality of life(protection
of environmental resources), the Indian version is based on the need of natural resources for human
survival( Utility of natural resources). Indian environmentalism is considered to be environmentalism of
the poor. Ramachandra Guha( The Unquiet Woods) calls environmental movements of India to be
movements on empty stomach, highlighting that the concern for environmental protection arises out of
the need for natural forest resources for food, fodder and fuel for human survival, especially for the
tribals.

The environmentalism in India is generally opposed to loss of livelihoods of tribals and

development induced displacement arising out of large scale infrastructure projects like dams, as visible
in Narmada Bachao Andolan. The protection of environment is incidental to the concern for securing
livelihoods and survival in most cases in India.

Ramachandra Guha and Madhav Gadgil (This Fissured Land) highlight the political ecology
aspect of Indian Environmentalism as a conflict between the State and the poor and marginalized
section whose livelihoods directly depends on the natural resources. On the other hand, Vandana
Shiva’s Spiritual Ecology theory considers Indian Enviromentalism as a critique of the Western
conception of mastery over nature. She calls for feminine principle of prakriti ( nature) to reassess the
relationship of humans with nature.

Indian environmentalism is also linked to securing social justice of the marginalized sections of
the society by protection of their livelihoods through environmental conservation. Vandana Shiva
presents an eco feminist picture of Indian Environmentalism on how the masculinist bias of capitalism in
leading to exploitation of both the environment and women.

Environmentalism in India is also linked to the forest rights of the tribals under the Forest Rights
Act 2006. In coastal areas, the livelihoods of the fishing communities is taken into account while framing
the Coastal Regulatory Zone Rules.

Indian environmentalism sought reforms and protections in various areas like:

1. Air pollution Control in Delhi (MC Mehta Case – Use of Judiciary to address the concerns of air
pollution)
2. Fisheries management in Kerala
3. Use of institutions like National Green Tribunal to seek justice and protect environment against
the adverse impacts of unplanned development
4. Legislations and International obligations like Environmental Protection Act, 1986, Panchamrit
Nationally Determined Contributions at COP 26 Glasgow UNFCC summit 2021( Net ZERO by
2070, 50% of energy mix from non fossil fuel sources etc.)
5. Use of International Platforms like UNFCC, UNEP and diplomacy by the government to put
forward the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibility ( But developed nations are
yet to accept their historical responsibility for pollution)
 Arne Naaes has differentiated between deep ecologism and shallow ecologism. The
anthropocentric thinking keeping humans at the centre of thought leads to shallow ecologism based on
conservation of environment for human survival. Deep ecologism is much more radical and calls for bio
centric equality and transformation of the way in which environmental protection discourse is shaped.
Most of the times, Indian environmentalism is shallow ecologism, with the prime concern being the
livelihoods and human survival.

But this concern for environment is also evolving to include concern not just on economic
considerations but also to ensure protection of environment as visible in the Aarey colony protests in
Mumbai in 2021. The Silent Valley movement was also concerned with preserving biodiversity of the
Western ghats. The Eco Sensitive Zones of Western Ghats demarcated by Kasturirangan and Gadgil
commmittees also aim at preservation and promotion of the biodiversity hotspots of the Western Ghats.

A48 of the Constitution directs the State to implement policies to protect and improve the
environment. Similarly A 51 (g) makes it a fundamental duty of every citizen to protect and improve the
environment. Effective and credible Environment Impact assessments should be undertaken to balance
economic development with environmental considerations. Technological Innovations in clean energy
(Sustainable Development Goal - 6) like hybrid electric vehicles, battery swapping, Green Hydrogen,
decarbonisation, biofuel etc. need to be promoted . We need to adopt what the Hon’ble Prime Minister
of India called as LIFE( Lifestyle for Environment) practices including promotion of 3Rs Reduce, reuse,
recycle, reducing plastic usage etc.

The Indian environmentalism is on its path to evolve from being concerned with human survival
issues and dependence on natural resources for livelihood towards pro active Conservation of
Environment due to rising percapita incomes leading to increased awareness about the environmental
considerations to ensure sustainable development. The Supreme Court has also included the Right to
clean environment to be a part of the Right to Life under A 21 of the Constitution.

. We should change our attitude about our relationship with nature and other life forms and
realize that everything is interconnected and that we need to learn to live in harmony with the nature.

We should keep in mind that our earth is not an inheritance from the past but a borrowing from
our future generations as highlighted in the Brundtland report to ensure inter generational equity and
sustainable development