CHAPTER - 6

SUMM ARY A N D C O N C LU SIO N

The ‘natural environment’ is that which includes nature and is not

primarily or solely human creation. The word ‘environment’ is derived from an
old French word ‘envorn’ meaning circle. The quote Gisbert, ‘Environment is
anything immediately surrounding an object and exerting a direct influence on
it.” Therefore it can be said that environment comprises o f :

(i) Physical environment - it includes the physical phenomena like

the sun, air, water etc.
(ii) Biological environment- it includes the world of plants and
animals.
(iii) Socio-cultural environment- it includes the social, economic,
political processes, rules, regulations, traditions, customs, norms
and all other things that make up a society of which man is a
member.

It is to be noted that all natural environments have been directly or.

indirectly influenced by humans at some period of time. All natural
environments area dependent on the people in and around them, and are a
product of the interaction between nature and humans. The term ‘ecosystem’
has been used to describe an environment that includes nature and people.
Some define ‘environment’ as related to food, shelter, fuel, fodder and
medicine for all. It demotes all those resources which make up the totality of
the productive base of a region, which is inhabited or uninhabited by people.
Therefore to have a clear idea about the interaction of man and the biological
and physical environment it is necessary to understand the term ‘biodiversity’.
Biodiversity

The term ‘biodiversity’ is the variation of life forms within a green

ecosystem. Scientists define biodiversity as the ‘totality of genes, species and
ecosystems of a region’, it means the variability among being organisms from
all sources, including ‘interalia’, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic
ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are port. This includes
diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. A biodiversity
hotspot is a region with a high level of endemic species. Dense human
habitation tends to occur near the hotspots.

Biodiversity also provides food for human beings like all other
organism. Although about 80 per cent of our food supply comes from just 20
kinds of plants, human use at least 40,000 species of plants and animals a day.
Almost all people around the world depend on these species for their food,
shelter and clothing. Biodiversity is not only related to basic human needs, it is
also related to human health. Some of the heath issues influenced by
biodiversity include dietary health and nutrition security, infectious diseases,
medical science and medicinal resources, social and psychological health and
spiritual wellbeing. Biodiversity is also known to have an important role in
reducing disaster risk and in post-disaster relief and recovery.

A huge range of industrial materials are derived directly from biological

resources. These include building materials, fibers, dyes, resin, rubber and oil.
Biodiversity is also a part in regulating the chemistry of our atmosphere and
water supply, it is directly involved in water purification, recycling nutrients and
providing fertile soils. Philosophically it could also be argued that biodiversity
has intrinsic, aesthetic and spiritual value to mankind in and of itself.
Therefore, all these, loss of biodiversity is recognized as a significant risk to
long term human development.

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Degradation of Biodiversity

Through centuries man has understood ‘nature’ or biodiversity as a

commodity and that society is for human beings only. Most of the species

extinction from 1000 A.D. to 2000 A.D. are due to human activities, in

particular to destruction of plants and animal habitats. Factors contributing to

loss of biodiversity are over population deforestation, air, water and soil

pollution, global warming or climate change driven by human activity.

Overpopulation

Overpopulation is a condition where an organism’s number exceeds

the carrying capacity of its habitat. Overpopulation does not depend only on

the size of density of the population, but on the ratio to available sustainable

resources, and on the means of resources use and distribution used by that

population. The problems associated with overpopulation can be very serious

like (a) inadequate fresh drinking water, (b) depletion of natural resources, (c)

increased level of land water and air pollution, (d) mass species extinct, (e)

high child mortality, (f) increased chance of emergence of new epidemics and

pandemics, (g) poverty etc.

Besides overpopulation, difficult human activities have led to other

problems like ‘green house effect’ and ‘global warming’.

Deforestation

A serious threat to biodiversity is deforestation. Deforestation is the

logging and/ or burning of tress in a forested area. In many countries

deforestation causes extinction of many species, changes to climatic

conditions, desertification and displacement of indigenous people.

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Deforestation is a big contributor to global climate change and is considered as

one of the main causes of enhanced greenhouse effect. The water cycle is also

affected by deforestation; it reduces the content of water in the soil, and

ground water as well as atmospheric moisture. The current global trends in

deforestation along with increased combustion of fossil fuels have a cumulative

effect on the net increase in carbon-dioxide content in the atmosphere.

Greenhouse Effect

The ‘green-house effect’ is the process by which absorption and

emission of infrared radiation by gases in the atmosphere warm a planet’s

lower atmosphere and surface. This green-house effect has caused global

warming.

Global Warming

Global warming is the progressive gradual rise of the earth’s surface

temperature thought to be caused by the greenhouse effect and responsible for

changes in global climate patterns. An increase in global temperature will

cause sea levels to rise and will change the amount and pattern of precipitation

probably including the expansion of sub-tropical deserts and shrinking of

glaciers.

Due to the above mentioned factors pollution is increasing in our planet

earth.

Pollution

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into an environment that

causes instability disorder, harm or discomfort to the biodiversity. Industrialization

has contributed to pollution to a great extent. The different kinds of pollution are

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air pollution, water pollution, land pollution, noise pollution and nuclear

pollution. Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter or

biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other being

organisms or damages the natural environment Water pollution results when

toxic substances enter lakes, streams, rivers, oceans and other water bodies and

either get dissolved or lei suspended or get desposited on the bed. Land

degradation is the degradation of the earth’s surface mainly due to human

activities. It causes when wastes are not disposed properly, excessive mining and

improper use of soil. Urbanization and industrialization are the major causes of

land pollution. Noise pollution or environmental noise is displeasing as it disrupts

the activity or balance of human and animal life. Noise health effects are both

health and behavioural in nature. Noise can have a detrimental effect on animal

by causing stress, increasing risk mortality by changing the delicate balance in

predator/ prey detection. In addition to all these, nuclear pollution damage plants

and ultimately the radioactive materials enter the human body by the process of

food chain. It further results in thyroid cancer.

Environmental Degradation and Women

Women, their health and environment are closely interrelated.

Increasing depletion of natural resources such as forest, water bodies, hills has

adverse effect on the lives o f people particularly wom en. Such effects of

natural degradation on poor women can be summarized as (a) decrease in

quantity and quality of land, water resources resulting in decline of farm and

animal husbandry activities, (b) migration of men to urban areas in search of

alternate sources of income, (c) more time spent in collection of forest

products, often leads to less time for other activities resulting in lower level of

income, (d) stressed walking and working hours to fetch fuel, food, fodder and

water causing drudgery and poor nutrition to women.

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 E n v i r o n m e n t a l d e g r a d a t i o n i n m a n y d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s h a s r e s u l t e d

i n w o m e n b e i n g p u s h e d o f f t h e m o s t p r o d u c t i v e l a n d s a n d f o r c e d t o o v e r u s e

t h e m a r g i n a l p l o t s t h e y a r e a l l o t t e d i n c o u n t r i e s l i k e I n d i a , S r i L a n k a ,

B a n g l a d e s h , N e p a l a n d v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s i n s u b S a h a r a n A f r i c a .

E n v i r o n m e n t a l d e g r a d a t i o n n o t o n l y d e p r i v e s w o m e n o f t h e i r b a s i c n e e d s b u t

h a s a n e g a t i v e i n f l u e n c e o n f e m a l e l i t e r a c y . I n K e r a l a , i t h a s b e e n d e s e r v e d

t h a t l o w e r t h e w o r k b u r d e n o n w o m e n , g r e a t e r i s t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e

e d u c a t i o n a l p r o c e s s . I t i s n o t e d t h a t w h e r e n a t u r a l e n v i r o n m e n t i s b e t t e r

p r e s e r v e d , t h e l e v e l o f f e m a l e l i t e r a c y i s v e r y h i g h . T h i s r e f l e c t s t h e i m p a c t o f

e c o l o g i c a l c o n d i t i o n s o n w o m e n n o t o n l y i n t h e i r d a y t o d a y a c t i v i t i e s b u t a l s o

o n t h e i r q u a l i t y o f l i f e i n c l u d i n g e d u c a t i o n .

P r o te c tio n o f th e E n v ir o n m e n t

T h e I n d u s t r i a l R e v o l u t i o n s p a r k e d a n u n p a r a l l e l e d w a v e o f f o r e s t

c l e a r a n c e a n d l a n d d r a i n a g e . R e a c t i n g t o t h i s o n s l a u g h t a f e w i n d i v i d u a l s

s c a t t e r e d o v e r d i f f e r e n t p l a c e s b e g a n t o s p e a k o u t , b u t i t t o o k y e a r s f o r

e n v i r o n m e n t a l i s m t o m a t u r e i n t o a p u b l i c m o v e m e n t . B y 1 8 5 0 n a t u r e w r i t e r s

w e r e e v o k i n g t h e p o w e r o f t h e l a n d a n d t a l k i n g i n a ‘ r e s p e c t f o r n a t u r e ’ . T h e

e f f o r t s o f A m e r i c a n s l i k e H e n r y D . T h o r e a u a n d J o h n M u i r m e t w i t h s t i f f

o p p o s i t i o n f r o m p e o p l e w i t h e c o n o m i c i n t e r e s t s . T o w a r d s t h e e n d o f t h e

n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y e n v i r o n m e n t a l a w a r e n e s s b e g a n t o s p r e a d t o t h e w e s t e r n

w o r l d .

I n t h e f i r s t f i f t y ( 5 0 ) y e a r s o f t h e l a s t c e n t u r y t h e r e w a s a g r o w i n g

a w a r e n e s s a b o u t t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o t e c t i o n . W i l l i a m

H o m a d a y w a s o n e o f t h e f i r s t c o n s e r v a t i o n i s t s t o d r a w a t t e n t i o n t o t h e p l i g h t o f

e n d a n g e r e d w i l d l i f e . I t w a s o n l y f r o m t h e 1 9 6 0 s t h a t c o n c e r n f o r t h e

e n v i r o n m e n t w a s g a l v a n i z e d i n t o a n o r g a n i z e d f o r c e a n d m a n y w o u l d a g r e e

2 2 8
th at th e m ile s to n e m a rk in g th e birth o f th e e n v ir o n m e n ta l m o v e m e n t w a s

R a c h e l C a r s o n ’ s (1 9 6 2 ) b o o k , ‘S ile n t S p r in g ’ .

F ro m th e 1 9 7 0 s o n w a rd s, in tern a tion a l c o o p e r a tio n w a s stressed to

ch eck e n v iro n m e n ta l d e g ra d a tio n . E n v iro n m e n ta l pressu re g ro u p s ‘F rien d s o f

th e E arth ’ a n d ‘ G r e e n p e a c e ’ w e r e estab lish ed in 1 9 7 1 . 1 9 7 2 s a w th e first o f th e

10 y e a rly E arth S u m m its h eld in S to c k h o lm , S w e d e n , a n d th e 1 1 3 n a tion s that

a tten d ed w e r e b e c o m in g in creasin gly a w a re o f th eir e n v ir o n m e n ta l p ro b lem s.

T h e 1 9 8 2 su m m it w a s c o n s id e re d in e ffe ctiv e b e c a u s e o f th e c o ld w a r. T h e third

Earth su m m it, h e ld in R io D e J a n erio , B razil in 1 9 9 2 e m p h a s iz e d h o w o u r

ea rth ’ s e n v iro n m e n ta l p ro b le m s a re clo s e ly rela te d to th e e c o n o m y a n d to socia l

ju stice issues. T h e w o r ld lea d ers a g r e e d to c o m b a t g lo b a l w a rm in g , p ro te c t

b io d iv e rs ity a n d stop u sin g d a n g e ro u s p o iso n s. In J o h a n n e s b u rg E arth su m m it

o f 2 0 0 2 th e U n ite d N a tio n s id en tified fiv e a rea s fo r a tten tio n - w a te r a n d

sanitation, e n e r g y , h ealth , agricu ltu re a n d b io d iv e rs ity . T h e G o v e r n in g C o u n c il

o f th e U N E P is th e p rim a ry d e v e lo p e r o f p o lic y g u id elin es fo r U N E n v iro n m e n ta l

P ro g r a m m e s a n d p la y s a d ip lo m a tic ro le in p r o m o tin g c o o p e r a tio n b e tw e e n U N

m e m b e r states o n e n v iro n m e n ta l basis.

It is w o rth m e n tio n in g s o m e o f th e fa m o u s w o r ld p ro je c ts s p o n s o re d b y

th e U N E P . One is th e fa m o u s lo a n p r o g r a m m e h e lp in g 1 ,0 0 ,0 0 0 p e o p le

fin a n c e s o la r p o w e r system s in In d ia . A n o t h e r is th e fo r m a tio n o f th e W h a le

a n d D o lp h in C o n s e r v a tio n S o c ie t y fo r th e w o r ld w id e c o n s e r v a tio n a n d w e lfa r e

o f w h a les, d o lp h in s a n d p o rp o is e s . A g a in , in 2 0 0 1 , a m u ltim illio n b id to re d u c e

th e risk o f d e v a s ta tin g flo o d s o n one o f th e w o r ld ’ s m ig h tie st rivers, th e

Y a n g tz e , w a s d r a w n b y scientists in C h in a a n d at th e U N E P . T h e p r o je c t w a s

to resto re th o u sa n d s o f lost lakes a n d natu ral d r a in a g e system s s o th a t th e r iv e r

ca n c o p e b e tte r d u rin g tim es o f h e a v y a n d p r o lo n g e d rains.

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F a m o u s N a t i o n a l M o v e m e n t a n d P r o je c t s to p r o t e c t th e E n v iro n m e n t

in I n d i a

India can boast of the first environmental movement in the world. Much
before the concepts like ‘ecology’, ‘environment’, ‘sustainability’ were coined,

a tribe of Rajasthan called the ‘Bishnoi’ fought successful battles against the

mighty rulers and traders to protect the forests. Besides this, there are several
other environment protection movements and programmes to save the

degraded biodiversity and promote sustainable development. Chief among

these was the ‘Chipko Movement’, led by Sri Sunderlal Bahuguna supported

by the men and women of the Himalayan region, presently called Uttaranchal.

In addition, the ‘Narmada Bacchao Andolan’ and ‘Save Periyer’ are also
worth mentioning.

Among the different environment protection projects two very famous

projects may be mentioned. On is the River Ganga cleaning project and

‘Project Tiger’ and also Vishakha Society for Protection and Care of Animals

which is mainly concerned with the conservation of migratory birds and sea

turtles.

In India today, the electronic media is gradually trying to play a part in

protecting the environment. The NDTV 2 4 x 7 channel have generated

donations from people to provide solar powered lamps to many unelectrified

villages of India.

E n v i r o n m e n t P r o t e c t i o n in A s s a m

In Assam too, there are a number of movements and projects to save

the environment. The famous NGOs ‘Nature’s Beacon’ and ‘Aranyak’, Avard-

NE are working remarkably to check the degradation of the region. The

Northeastern Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion M anagement Project,

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Assam, assists the State Government in developing and implementing a
comprehensive erosion management strategy.

As like any other district of Assam, some efforts are being made by the

State Government and NGOs to protect the environment in the Kamrup District.

Role of Women and Environment Protection

W omen have traditionally been responsible for subsistence and survival

tasks like providing food and water, fuel and fodder collection. It has been

proved time and again that women have a special relationship with the

environment in many other ways as they are often the custodians of

indigenous knowledge and promoters of biodiversity and environment friendly

management.

Some projects undertaken by women to protect the environment have

become world famous. The ‘Green Belt Movement International’ by Kenya,

the ‘Women, Homen and Environment’ in China, the wom en’s participation

in the ‘Chipko Movement’ in our country are worth a mention here. Women

naturally tend to conserve different food and medicinal plants and animals for

ensuring household food and health security. In Assam also, women are found

to be involved in environment protection work. In many parts of the state as

well in the Kamrup district they were involved in bettering not only the physical

but also the social environment.

Environmental Education

As women are the worst sufferers of environment degradation, it is very

important that they receive environmental education so that they gain proper

knowledge about environmental protection. Environmental education is an

integral process which deals with m an’s interrelationship with his natural and

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man made surroundings, including the relation of population growth,

pollution, resource allocation and depletion, conservation, technology and

urban and rural planning to the total human environment. Environmental

education envisages a set of organized curricular and co-curricular experiences

designed to bring about the needed changes in knowledge, understanding

attitudes and skills pertaining to environment, conservation and ecological

balance and sustaining it. Environmental education is very important

especially for women as they are considered to be better managers and

conservationists of the environment.

Need of the Study

Today it is essential to understand the interrelationship between human

beings, socieiy and the biophysical surroundings. Women try to maintain

closed ties with the natural resources base as biomass collectors and so have

in-depth knowledge and know how of the properties and uses of biomass

species. It is necessary that women play an active role in the conservation and

protection of the environment through property designed education

programmes.

Significance of the Study

Women are hardest hit when the environment is degraded as it affects

their time, income and health. History as well as recent records tell a lot about

women’s participation in environmental issues with remarkable success.

Moreover, there are not too many studies in the respect in this region. This had

promoted the investigator to take up an authentic study on women’s role in

this area. On the basis of the need and significance of the study the

investigator stated the problem with the following title - “A Study on the Role

of Women in Environment Protection with Reference to Kamrup District”

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 Key terms - study, role, women, environment, protection, reference,

district, Kamrup District.

Objectives of the Study

For the study the following objectives were formulated -

(1) To study the awareness among women about the dependence

of human beings on the environment for everyday needs.

(2) To study the awareness among women about environmental

degradation in Kamrup district.

(3) To study the awareness among women regarding importance of

conservation of environment.

(4) To study the skills in women necessary to participate in activities

related to environment protection.

(5) To study women’s views on the importance of women education

for planning environmental protection.

(6) To study the techniques used by women in protecting the

environment.

Hypotheses of the Study

For the study the following hypothesis had been formulated :

(1) Women depend solely on the environment for their daily needs.

(2) Women play an important role in protecting the environment.

(3) Awareness among women develops a positive outlook in

protecting the environment.

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 (4} Environmental education helps women in the protection of the

environment.

(5) Application o f different techniques helps in identifying and

solving environmental problems.

(6} Men and women must work together in making effective plans

to protect the environment.

The study was limited to the Kamrup district and delimited to women

between 18-60 years of age o f the Kamrup district.

Different types o f literature related to the topic were reviewed by the

investigator to get better know how about carrying out the study.

Methodology

Descriptive survey method was used by the investigator for the study.

This method helped to get better understanding o f the topic by collection

information (data) through questionnaires, interview, informal group

discussion and observations. The sample for the study was random and it was

stratified into rural and urban then into tribal and non-tribal o f each category

and further into literate and illiterate.

For the study the independent variables were the type o f area - rural or

urban, age, income, educational qualification o f the respondents. The

respondents5 views and opinions depended on the independent variables and

therefore they were termed as dependent variables.

Major Findings of the Study

The analysis o f data collected in Kamrup (Rural) and Kamrup (Metro)

clearly indicated that following aspects :

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 A s p e r t h e o b j e c t i v e s o f s t u d y t h e a w a r e n e s s a m o n g w o m e n a b o u t

h u m a n b e i n g s ’ d e p e n d e n c e o n t h e e n v i r o n m e n t f o r e v e r y d a y n e e d s l i k e f o o d ,

f u e l a n d f o d d e r , 1 0 0 p e r c e n t o f t h e s a m p l e s t a t e d t h a t t h e y d i d s o .

9 0 p e r c e n t o f t h e s a m p l e i n K a m r u p ( R u r a l ) a n d 1 0 0 p e r c e n t i n

K a m r u p ( M e t r o ) r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e e n v i r o n m e n t i n K a m r u p d i s t r i c t , l i k e o t h e r

p a r t s o f A s s a m a n d I n d i a w a s h i g h l y d e g r a d e d 1 0 0 p e r c e n t i n b o t h K a m r u p

( R u r a l ) a n d K a m r u p ( M e t r o ) e m p h a s i z e d t h a t t h e d e g r a d a t i o n w a s d u e t o

h u m a n b e i n g s ’ a c t i v i t i e s a n d i t w a s m a i n l y b e c a u s e o f h i g h p o p u l a t i o n g r o w t h .

A s p e r t h e o b j e c t i v e o f a w a r e n e s s a m o n g w o m e n r e g a r d i n g t h e

i m p o r t a n c e o f e n v i r o n m e n t p r o t e c t i o n 1 0 0 p e r c e n t o f t h e K a m r u p ( R u r a l ) a n d

K a m r u p ( M e t r o ) s a m p l e a s s e r t e d t h a t i t w a s v e r y i m p o r t a n t t o c o n s e r v e t h e

e n v i r o n m e n t a n d t h a t t h e y w e r e m o r e c o n s c i o u s , t h a n m e n , a b o u t p r o t e c t i n g

t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a s t h e y f e l t t h a t t h e y w e r e c l o s e r t o n a t u r e a n d w e r e b e t t e r

m a n a g e r s a n d n u r t u r e s o f t h e e n v i r o n m e n t .

R e g a r d i n g t h e s k i l l s i n w o m e n t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n a c t i v i t i e s i t w a s f o u n d

t h a t w o m e n d i d n o t f a v o u r c u t t i n g d o w e r t r e e s b u t o n t h e o t h e r h a n d ,

g a t h e r e d d r i e d b r a n c h e s a n d t w i g s o f t r e e s a n d b a m b o o f o r f u e l a n d a s h o u s e

b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l s . W o m e n w e r e f o u n d t o b e e n g a g e d i n f e t c h i n g w a t e r ,

c o o k i n g , w a s h i n g , r e a r i n g c h i l d r e n , l o o k i n g a f t e r d o m e s t i c a n i m a l s . I n K a m r u p

( R u r a l ) , w o m e n w e r e a l s o e n g a g e d i n a g r i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s b e s i d e s d o i n g t h e i r

h o u s e h o l d c h o r e s . W o m e n w e r e a l w a y s i n f a v o u r o f p l a n t i n g t r e e s , m a i n t a i n

g a r d e n s a n d a l s o w o r s h i p c e r t a i n p l a n t s a n d t r e s s . W o m e n i n K a m r u p ( R u r a l )

w e r e f o u n d t o b e a g a i n s t k i l l i n g w i l d a n i m a l s a n d 5 0 p e r c e n t o f t h e m w e r e

f o u n d t o r e a r f i s h i n p o n d s . T h e s e a c t i v i t i e s i n d i c a t e d t h e s k i l l s i n w o m e n t o

p a r t i c i p a t e i n a c t i v i t i e s r e l a t e d t o e n v i r o n m e n t p r o t e c t i o n .

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 In respect to girls’ education, 80 per cent of the rural sample and 90 per

cent o f the Kamrup (Metro) sample stressed that girls education was very

important. Many also stressed it was better than girls should be education upto

the Higher Secondary and Graduation levels in order to empower them. The

women of the house did all the household works but did not have access to

property rights and decision making in most family and social matters 70 per

cent of metro sample asserted that girls should be given vocational education

or training like boys that they could become self reliant. It was also emphasized

that environmental education was necessary and that it should be imparted

right from the primary stage as it equipped boys and girls with proper

knowledge about environment protection.

In both Kamrup (Rural) and Kamrup (Metro), women in the family took

care o f the sick family member, their food, medicines etc. women always tried

to keep their houses and also their surrounding areas clean.

W om en used different techniques in order to protect the environment.

100 per cent o f the rural sample and 33 per cent o f the metro sample either

buried or burnt their household wastes. The organic wastes buried turned into

useful organic manure. The women also stressed on boiling/ filtering the

drinking water as they were aware of the dangerous effects o f contaminated

water. They also stressed on using mosquito nets. 80 per cent o f the rural

sample and 20 per cent o f the metro sample were in favour o f forming groups

to carry out cleaning activities in their localities. 80 per cent o f the samples in

rural and metro Kamrup were against drinking alcohol as it led to many

environmental and social problems. They also emphasized that there should

be awareness creating programmes about the harmful effects o f smoking,

chewing tobacco and drinking alcohol. 90 per cent o f the rural sample and 80

per cent o f the metro sample were very alert about switching off electricity and

water taps in order to save water and energy. 100 per cent of both the rural

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and metro sample stressed that if men and women worked together to solve

environmental problems, it would be better protected.

C o n c lu s io n

From the study it was found that women played a significant role in

protecting the environment. At home women do most of the cleaning work,

look after the health and well being of the family members, manage gardens
and domestic animals, conserve forest cover and carry out many activities that

help environment protection. In many parts of the world and India there are

enough instances of women playing very important roles in this aspect right

from the ancient times. Women like Rachel Carson, Wangari Maathai,

Vandana Shiva, Medha Patkar, to name a few, have championed the cause of

environment protection.

W omen have a special relationship with the environment in many

ways, they are often the custodians of indigenous knowledge and promoters of

biodiversity and environment friendly management. So it is very essential that

their contributions are recognized and that they get access to equal political

and economic rights, market opportunities and natural resources. As the

literacy rate of women in rising, they are gradually taking active part in

decision making process regarding family and social matters.

S u g g e s t io n s

Like other part of the world environment in India and the North East

have been subjected to high degree of pollution and environmental

degradation. Human activities have been tampering with the natural order. In

Assam and the Kamrup district, majority of the people live in the rural areas

and free biomass goods play a crucial roles in meeting daily survival needs -

food water, fish, fertilizer, fodder, fuel, building materials and medicines. But

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now due to destruction o f the environment things have changed, and no other

group is more affected in this respect than women. As things like firewood,

fodder, clean water have become increasingly difficult to obtain, women have

to spend an inordinate amount o f time foraging for them in addition to the

household activities like cooking and child rearing, agricultural work and caring

for animals. Therefore concrete measures should be taken up to check the

degradation of the environment and depletion o f natural resources or else it

would further deplete the social resources o f people such as nutrition, health,

education, housing etc.

The Article 48 (a) o f the Constitution o f India directs the state to take

strong measures not only for its protection but also for its improvement. Article

51 (a) incurs a corresponding duty on the citizens. Different Acts like

Prevention and Control of Pollution Act for Air and Water and the

Environmental Protection Act o f 1986 have formulated many rules to control

hazardous pollutants. There are the Central and State Boards for the

prevention o f pollution. However, the core issues effecting or rather controlling

the environment have remained the same. Therefore, some measures to

protect the environment have been presented below :

Forests should not be destroyed mercilessly because they are valuable

assets. In the forests o f Kamrup District there are different types o f plants and

animals, women particularly in the rural areas have great knowledge about he

uses of different plants and trees. Moreover, trees regulate the climate and

atmosphere o f an area, hence, it is important to plant new trees and conserve

the existing ones in the forests.

Another important thing is that people should not throw household

wastes in any unplanned manner. Rubbish should be sorted out. Organic

kitchen wastes should be buried if possible in order to turn into useful manure.

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In metro areas the wastes must be tightly packed and disposed in planned

manner. Other items like metal, cans, glass bottles, newspapers, plastic items
and others should be taken for recycling, plastic bags must be banned by the

authorities as it is not biodegraded and leads to clogged drains especially in the

Guwahati city. Recycled paper saves trees, chlorine bleach is usually used to
make newspapers and this pollutes rivers so it care should be taken to

minimize the use of bleach.

The factories and industries emit a lot of pollutants in the air, land and

water so authorities must impose strict rules so that emissions are reduced.

When rubbish in the landfill site rots, ‘m ethane’ is released into the air,

so when rubbish is dumped, extreme care must be taken to cover it with soil so

that it does not become a health hazard.

To protect the environment knowledge about health care is essential.

Regular and frequent health camps must be organized to create awareness

about diseases and their preventive measures. Proper knowledge about health

and hygiene must be provided health camps are organized by government as

well as some NGOs but they must be more frequent and better organized.

Problems related to smoking and drinking must also be highlighted by such

camps.

The most important instrument of promoting environmental protection,

however, is education - both formal and informal. Literacy helps an individual

to develop a better know how to things and ideas, be more alert towards
environmental problems and to find solutions to tackle them. W omen are

generally found to be less educated then men, therefore education must be

available to them at par with men so that they can decisions. Environmental

education should be included in the curriculum from the primary stage.

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 Environmental education helps individuals to be aware and sensitive

to the environment and its allied problems, acquire skills for solving

environmental problems and develop values and strong feelings o f concern

for the environment by actively participating in environment protection

activities.

Role of Government Agencies

Government agencies play important roles to conserve the

environment.

The Government of India has passed many Acts to conserve the

environment o f the country. One of the most important Act was the

Environment Protection Act of 1986 which authorized the Central

Government to protect and improve environment quality, control and reduce

pollution from all sources, and prohibit or restrict the setting and/ or operation

of an industrial facility on environmental grounds.

However, it is not only important to enact Acte but to make stringent

laws to stop deforestation, wildlife poaching, hillsides cutting, illegal fishing etc.

A firm commitment o f the people will help to achieve the goal of protecting the

environment. Besides this, the Government’s effort to introduce environmental

education in schools and colleges must be done with the main objective of

developing awareness among students on environmental problems and its

conservation.

Role of NG O s

The main objective of NGOs should be to spread awareness about the

need to protect the environment and sustainable use o f natural resources.

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Another objective should be to address the different problems and also to

promote the conservation management and sustainable use of biodiversity in

ecosystems including freshwater ecosystems, forest and mountain ecosystems,

species and genetic resources, their sustainable use and equitable sharing of

benefits arising from such use.

Role of Media

Media and its various channels are important in their role of spreading

awareness and information on the various aspects of environmental

protection. Having a strong readership and viewer ship, the various channels

of media are the perfect medium to spread the message of environmental

education. The role of media can be well gauged from the fact that major

business houses, political groups and social organizations use special

promotional clips and programmes to promote the environmental protection

through this medium. Another important role of media in environmental

protection is essayed in its importance in bringing the defaulters of the matter

to look and also highlighting the ill-practices that might be carried out by such

individuals or organizations. Whether it is print media, electronic mode of the

web, by giving adequate publicity to the defaulters’ actions steps can be taken

against them and the authorities can manage to set a good example for other

who might default at some other time.

The role of media in environmental education is also reflected in its

ability to spread awareness regarding the Government’s rules, regulations

and any direction regarding the matter. Similarly it is also extremely helpful

for an ordinary citizen who can simply use this medium to air his/ her

grievance regarding the matter of environment protection and environmental

education.

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Follow up Studies

Studies that can be followed from the present study are listed below :

(1) Study on women’s participation in the conservation of the

wetlands of Kamrup district and other parts of Assam.

(2) Study on women’s participation in the agricultural activities with

men and the share if they have any, in the market economy of

the products.

(3) Make an in-depth study of the different aspects of environmental

degradation and their relationships with the diseases that

women suffer and their remedial measures.

(4) Study in detail the role of women education in developing their

decision making abilities which consequently help environmental

protection.

(5) To study the effectiveness of the Government rules and

regulations in protection and conservation of environment.

(6) Study the role of NGOs and private organizations in

environment protection.

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