Environmental movements in India: Save Western Ghats Movement

Environmental movements in India: Save Western Ghats Movement

1. Major Environmental Movement in India “Save Western Ghats movement”

2. Save Western Ghats Movement Save the Western Ghats Movement (SWGM) was a landmark event in environmental activism in India. In October 1986, Peaceful Society organised a national consultation on environment, during which it was decided to organize a march along the entire length of the Western Ghats The goal was to create an integrated Ecological perspective providing for both environmental protection as well as the rights of the rural communities. Later, Peaceful Society was appointed the Coordinating Agency of the entire event as Central Coordinator.

3. Save Western Ghats Movement - Organizational Structure The march had two Joint Coordinating Agencies, one for the Northern Districts, in Gujarat and most of the Western Maharashtra and another for the Southern states of Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. A National Advisory Committee was formed, with the renowned anthropologist, Prof. K.C. Malhotra as the Chairperson and with eminent persons in various related fields as members to provide support and advice.

4. Actual March planning and management was the responsibility of the Central Organising Committee with Kumar Kalanand Mani of Peaceful Society as Central Coordinator. In the field there were the parallel regional structures for the Northern and the Southern stretches of the Ghats. All the committees were very active and shared responsibility with greater effectiveness. The scale of preparations was immense with compilation of data on various issues, surveys of ‘hot spots’, which were specially vulnerable or critical, articles and statements in the press, liaison with local organizations and institutions for active participation and support of various kinds.

5. Peaceful society played a leading role in this process of planning and mobilizing and was actively involved in Ensuring government cooperation and support. (The Department of Environment, Govt. of India provided a grant for organizational expenses.) Mobilizing action groups and NGOs for a broad based participation Getting the support of Universities, academics and intellectuals and influential persons in the literary field. Forming of the various committees as different levels. Publicity and PR Getting the support of Universities, academics and intellectuals and influential persons in the literary field. Forming of the various committees as different levels. Publicity and PR Monitoring preparations for the March from Maharashtra to Tamil Nadu. Monitoring the actual march logistics and trouble shooting during the March Hosting the final meet at the end of the march.

6. The March: November 1987 – February 1987 The March was a 100 days event, which included 95 days of actual travel along the entire length of the Ghats plus 5 days of Conference and meetings in Goa. The march was in two teams, one starting from Navapur in the North and the other from Kanyakumari in the south. Representatives from over 160 Organizations and thousands of individuals participated There were over 600 meetings conducted during the course of the route All the teams converged on Bandora by a 2-day conference on “ save the western Ghats”. The entire group of over 700 marchers then marched to The total expenses for the March was estimated at over Rs. 3 Crores The actual budget Rs 4.8 lakhs , out of which Rs. 3.8 lakhs was a grant from the Department of the Environment of the Government of India. At the end of the march Rs 28,000 was returned as unspent!

7. Thank You!