Environmental Studies Project

Chetanalaya
•Chetanalaya is the most serving non profit organisation
in Delhi and Haryana.

•It Initiated in 1970 as humanitarian response to the

plight of people in the resettlement colonies and slum
clusters of Delhi as well as the backward villages of
Haryana.

•It has An active environmental department working on

related issues.

•Chetanalaya reaches to over a million people through

multi pronged interventions.
 History
•In the 1970s, Diocesan Social Action was formed as a
separate cell to coordinate rehabilitation efforts. Diocesan
Social Action took up education to their children, vocational
and skill development training to the youth and women of
their community.

•In 1975, the Diocesan Social Action was renamed as

Diocesan Justice and Peace.

•In 1978, an unprecedented flood in the river Yamuna

revealed how fragile and vulnerable was the slum
settlements in Delhi, most of which were on the flood path of
the river. Planned, systematic rehabilitation interventions
were taken up as response to this. Jahangirpuri witnessed
the first of the implementations.
 History
•These times also marked the gradual progress of
Chetanalaya into a Community Based Organisation.
Started with the formation of Chetnasanghs and Mahila
Mandals in the target communities, welfare and
development activities of Chetanalaya increased in the
1980s.

•In 1989, consequent to paradigm shift and rethink on

strategy, the name Chetanalaya was adopted. “Chetana”
means awareness and “Chetanalaya” means abode of
awareness.

•Chetanalaya was registered as a social service society in

1994 (under Societies Registration Act, 1886)
 Vision
A society where equality, justice and peace
are achieved and sustained MISSION.

Mission
A society where equality, justice and
peace are achieved and sustained.
 Environmental Programmes
•Excessive consumption in Delhi results in generating over 300
metric tonnes of plastic waste a day, 70% of which remain non-
degraded posing serious threats to the environment.

•One of the strongest response to this plastic hazard came from

Chetanalaya, the social action wing of the Archdiocese of Delhi,
when the country’s first “Green Shopper” movement was
inaugurated by Lt. Governor of Delhi, Mr. Tejender Khanna.

•“Green Shopper” movement is based on simple practical

concepts.

•Green shopper movement is primarily an education process

where consumers are urged to return to pre-polythene culture
where the customer carries his bag for purchasing. 
 Environmental Programmes
•Chetanalaya propagated the concept of “responsible
consumerism’ through schools.Last year about 20000
children in eight prominent schools in the capital city took
their school books and uniforms in jute bags to their parents
with an appeal to use this bag for family shopping

•This year about 30 schools expressed willingness to

associate with Chetanalaya.

•The Ministry of Environment, through Delhi Kalyan Samiti,

has joined Chetanalaya’s anti-plastic campaign and
distribution of biodegradable packaging materials by
donating two vehicles for this purpose.
 Conclusion
•Chetanalaya, a registered non-governmental organization,
came into existence in 1994 at New Delhi.

•It mainly focuses on the upliftment and development of the

under privileged, oppressed and deprived communities of
the society irrespective of caste, creed and religion. It also
have an environmental dept. Working actively on related
issues.

•It is actively working in areas like Bawana,Bhaleswa,Mochi

Colony,Jahangirpuri,Jhajjar,Kanakdurga,Khichripur,Mukun
dpur,Narnaul,New Semmapuri,Nuh,Rewari,Rohtak,Sangam
Vihar,Sundarnagri.