Hello Friends!

Today I'll be highlighting some popular environmental organizations in India which have been instrumental in bringing about a sustainable change and have carried out scores of successful campaigns all over the country. These organizations have greatly helped the government in its aim to continuously better the standards of living of the poor and prevent our environment from further degradation.

 CHINTAN

Chintan works for environmental justice in partnership with people and groups from diverse sections of society. Its focus is on ensuring equitable and sustainable production and consumption of materials, and improved disposal of waste. An important part of this is ensuring Green jobs, security and dignity for the urban poor, many of whom earn a living as waste recyclers.

Their initiatives include research, campaigns, policy interventions, building capacity among those engaged in recycling, and creating awareness about the need for reduced consumption and better waste management among the middle and upper classes.

While all of Chintan's work is anchored in grassroots partnerships with organizations of the urban marginalized like waste pickers (rag pickers) and kabaris(Scrap pickers), they also work closely with policymakers, students, parents, teachers, elected representatives, municipalities, residents welfare associations (RWAs) and the police.

GREEANPEACE INDIA

 Greenpeace India is the Indian branch of the global environmental group Greenpeace, a non-profit NGO, with a presence in 40 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. The Indian operations run four broad campaigns namely, stop climate change, sustainable agriculture, preserving the oceans and preventing another nuclear catastrophe.

Greenpeace India states that it receives 60% of its funding from donors in India, 38% from Netherlands-based Greenpeace International and less than 1% from the US-based Climate Works Foundation. According to the organization, they do not accept money from governments, intergovernmental organizations, political parties or corporations in order to avoid their influence.

THE WILDLIFE PROTECTION SOCIETY OF INDIA

The Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) was founded in 1994 by Belinda Wright, its Executive Director, who was an award-winning wildlife photographer and filmmaker till she took up the cause of conservation. From its inception, WPSI's main aim has been to bring a new focus to the daunting task of tackling India's growing wildlife crisis. It does this by providing support and information to government authorities to combat poaching and the escalating illegal wildlife trade - particularly in wild tigers. It has now broadened its focus to deal with human-animal conflicts and provide support for research projects.

With a team of committed environmentalists, WPSI is one of the most respected and effective wildlife conservation organisations in India. It is a registered non-profit organisation, funded by a wide range of Indian and international donors.

NAVDANYA

Navdanya means "nine seeds" (symbolizing protection of biological and cultural diversity) and also the "new gift" (for seed as commons, based on the right to save and share seeds. In today's context of biological and ecological destruction, seed savers are the true givers of seed. This gift or 'dana' of Navadhanyas (nine seeds) is the ultimate gift – it is a gift of life, of heritage and continuity. Conserving seed is conserving biodiversity, conserving knowledge of the seed and its utilization, conserving culture, conserving sustainability. It is a network of seed keepers and organic producers spread across 18 states in India.

It has helped set up 122 community seed banks across the country, trained over 5,00,000 farmers in seed sovereignty , food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture over the past two decades, and helped setup the largest direct marketing, fair trade organic network in the country.

It has also set up a learning center,Bija Vidyapeeth (School of the Seed / Earth University) on its biodiversity conservation and organic farm in Doon Valley, Uttarakhand, and North India. It also is actively involved in the rejuvenation of indigenous knowledge and culture. It has created awareness on the hazards of genetic engineering, defended people's knowledge from bio piracy and food rights in the face of globalization and climate change. Navdanya is a women centered movement for the protection of biological and cultural diversity.