http://ijopaar.org/ijopams.php/; 2018 Vol. 1(1); pp.

01-09, ISSN: 456-4516

Causes of the Effective Role of NGOs and the Contributions of

Self-Help Group (SHGs) to Protecting the Environment:
Challenges and Initiatives
Dr. Neeta Srivastava,
Assist. Prof.,
Department of economics,
Career Convent Girls Degree College
Vikas Nagar, Lucknow

Abstract
Like a developing country, India is going through all the problems and circumstances in
which the other countries are worried or suffering from our country’s independence. There is a
continuous reduction in primary needs such as regional variations (economic, social and cultural),
linguistic problems, food, water, cloth and housing, and the degradation of living standard and the
most horrific and critical population growth are some of the points which the reference can be
counted. The state governments make many schemes for the benefit and welfare of the common
citizens and the implement them in their own limits, but it is often seen that despite the efforts of the
government, people do not benefit. On the one hand, dissatisfaction between the people and the state
government is neglected; on the other hand, the government is still flawed due to its failure. The
situation of not benefiting the public has given rise to non-political organizations or private NGOs, or
if it says that due to the above problems, NGOs or PVOs have been created whose main motive is to
get rid of people from situations like this, there is no flaw.
In this paper, we have discussed the “Causes Of The Effective Role OfNGOs And The
Contributions Of A Self-Help Group (SHGs) To Protecting the Environment: (An overview of Indian
respect) Challenges and Initiatives”. All the views have been taken into secondary sources of
textbook, magazines, journals and government websites also. The conclusion of this paper is based on
empirical data analysis.
1. Introduction
The term sustainable development was defined clearly in the Brundtland report our common
future (1987) in the following words: “sustainable development seeks to meet the needs and
aspirations of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.”
Sustainable development can be achieved only if the environment is conserved and improved.
In basic terms, the environment should not be degraded further but improvements would be
welcome.” The argument quite simply is that the resource represents a common heritage for all
generations. To destroy gains compromises the gains of future generations and is thus undesirable,
therefore, the government must incorporate decisions. This requires that “the preservation or loss of
valuable environmental accounting into its policy decisions. This requires that “the preservation or
loss of valuable environmental resources should be factored into estimates of economic growth and
human well-being.
There have been no doubt that the economic growth leads to environmental degradation. The
history say’s that the developed and developing countries have given the priority of economic
development at the cost of environmental degradation. The result has shown in the form of global
warming, tsunami, floods, and earthquakes etc. due to this reason, all the world and their species have

UGC JOURNAL NO. 45255;

https://www.ugc.ac.in/journallist/ugc_admin_journal_report.aspx?eid=NDUyNTU=
IMPACT FACTOR: 4.057 Page | 1
http://ijopaar.org/ijopams.php/; 2018 Vol. 1(1); pp. 01-09, ISSN: 456-4516
been suffering identity of own community. World development report, 1992, summarises the main
health and productivity consequences of environmental damage in the developing countries. It divides
damage into seven categories: water pollution and water scarcity, air pollution, solid and hazardous
water waste, soil degradation, deforestation, loss of biodiversity and atmospheric changes.
During the last fifty years, the world’s population increased by more than 3.5 billion and 85
percent of this increase was in the developing and transition economies. The number of people living
in fragile rural areas in developing countries doubled posing a serious threat to the rural environment.
There was a sharp increase in the urban population of these countries as well because of natural
increase of population as a result of an excess of births over deaths on the one hand, and migration
from rural areas on the other hand. Both, pull factors and push factors have operated together to swell
the flow of people from rural of better employment opportunities in urban areas, better income, better
education and health facilities, and in general, a better lifestyle. The push factors include low levels of
agricultural productivity in rural areas, wide open and disguised unemployment, and wide disparity
between mutually dependent and mutually reinforcing factors, the growth of population in urban areas
has increased considerably putting severe pressure on urban facilities and resulting in air pollution,
noise pollution, increased accumulation of solid wastes, garbage, polythene bags, chemicals, toxic
elements, etc., in urban areas.
2. Objectives of the study
While examining the close links between environment and economic development, we shall address
the following issues:
1. To examine why is environmental protection necessary for sustainable development?
2. To discuss the relationship between whom the economic growth leads to environmental
degradation?
3. The motive of this study to discuss the population impact on the environment.
4. The most important aim of the study to discuss the role of non-government organization for
environment protection.
3. Need For Protecting The Environment
Over the past three centuries, humans are increasingly prone to adopt land, to suit their own
purposes, due to which the area of land used for agriculture and the global economy expanded
manifold. The land area devoted to cropland has expanded by 450 percent in the past 300 years,
amounting to a world increase of about 12.5 million sq.km. the net loss of forests due to human action
amounts to 15 to 20 percent of the world’s area. With the advent of industrialization from the 19th
century, there developed many areas of concern for humanity, among which “environment” is one of
the prime aspects.
4. Organisation of non-govt. organization
An organization of NGOs has been made upof the general public bodies. His working system has to
be bilateral-
A. They have been fit into the government and deliver the govt. policies towards the common
peoples. And
B. The reaction of the public, his aspirations, and the ignorance deliver towards the government.
So, the NGOs has to be the important rafter between government and peoples.It means an NGOs
is a social service organization and his main works to maintaining the better society and countries.
Their main mission is societal and environmental in nature.

UGC JOURNAL NO. 45255;

https://www.ugc.ac.in/journallist/ugc_admin_journal_report.aspx?eid=NDUyNTU=
IMPACT FACTOR: 4.057 Page | 2
http://ijopaar.org/ijopams.php/; 2018 Vol. 1(1); pp. 01-09, ISSN: 456-4516
The level of members is totally depended on the type of NGOs or his leaders and also dependent
on this fact that what is the working area of NGOs, due to this reason, the interlinked of the group of
public of this institution has to the group of generally educated people to highly qualify, most skilled
and technicians (doctor, engineer, lawyers, architects etc).
5. Working of Non-govt. Organisation
The working system of all the institutions of NGOs in the world have performs approximately
equal level. Which has to go on mutually. Only the differences between them that those institutions
which are working with govt. and institutions. They have followed the rules and limitations of own
government and area of the society.This is consolidated by the central or individual person.All NGOs
have been possessing the secretariat at a small or large scale and they are completed own all
correspondence and other miscellaneous works with the help of this secretariat. The sources of
funding have totally depended on some charitable trust and government sources. They are helping
every time to these institutions. They have obtained the government fund along with some
responsibilities also. However, they get some extra fund on another side by the scramblings at the
time of need.
6. Non-government organization from abroad
In the developed countries of the world where there are relatively few people in the state
machinery and their programs are widespread and expanded, here they are certainly looking for NGOs
working at a good level. With a detailed explanation of its work plan and the funds administered by
the administration, the proposals really offer to the NGOs.
According to a survey conducted by the organization for economic cooperation and
development (OECD), there were 1602 first-class NGOs working in north-eastern countries, which
was only contracted with the words of social welfare. For the combined word of Canada, France,
England, Germany has more than 1000 such institutions in each. There are several thousand NGOs in
South Asia including India and south-east Asia Verma. In the unfair treatment of people from many
countries due to economic exile and education or less education, many NGOs have given birth.
7. Prevalence of NGOs
NGOs do not work only on the periphery of their country, but there are also some institutions
that perform tasks from one country to another. Famine dries or bar epidemic outbreaks the
organizations take responsibility for the supply of milk medicines, clothing and other types of primary
needs to the children during natural calamities.In such a situation, it is not easy to carry the luggage
and to do the hard work of distributing it in proper places, which all do it. UNICEF, WEP, UNEP,
UNDP, FAO, WHO and Nation Union Property Disaster Welfare Coordination Office etc.
8. NGOs And Voluntary Agencies Working Worldwide
1. International Union For Conservation Of Nature And Natural Resources (IUCN-
1948):The world’s first global environmental organization founded in 1948. The main focus
area of this institution is nature conservation, biodiversity, nature-based solution etc.
2. The Nature Conservancy (1951):This is US charitable environmental organization founded
in 1951 and the focus area of this NGOs is to conservation by design-land conservation
techniques.
3. Worldwide Fund For Nature (WWF-1961): This type of NGOs are called as International
Non-governmental organization. Founded in 1961 and the main focus area are
environmentalism, conservation, and Ecology.

UGC JOURNAL NO. 45255;

https://www.ugc.ac.in/journallist/ugc_admin_journal_report.aspx?eid=NDUyNTU=
IMPACT FACTOR: 4.057 Page | 3
http://ijopaar.org/ijopams.php/; 2018 Vol. 1(1); pp. 01-09, ISSN: 456-4516
4. Greenpeace (1969): Greenpeace is a type of Non-governmental Environmental Organization.
Founded in g1969 and the main focus area is Global Warming, Deforestation, Overfishing,
Genetic Engineering and Anti-nuclear Issues.
5. Earth Watch Institute (1971):This is the type of International Non-Profit Organization.
Founded in 1971. The main focus area of this institution is for Environmental Research.
6. Fauna And Flora International (1951): This is also an International Non-Profit
Organization. Founded in 1951. The main focus area of this institution is to safeguard the
future of South Africa's Mammals.
7. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF-1967):This is a Non-profit Environmental Advocacy
Group. Founded in 1967. The main focus area of this institution are works on issues including
global warming, ecosystem restoration, oceans, and human health, and advocates using sound
science, economic and law to find an environmental solution.
8. World Resources Institute (WRI-1993): It is an independent, Non-partisan, non-profit
organization. Founded in 1982. The main focus area is to environmental issues and socio-
economic development.
9. The Earth Institute (1995):This is also a Non-profit Organization. Founded in 1995.The
main focus area is to works on Interdisciplinary Research Projects.
9. Other agencies and institutions
1. International Maritime Organization.
2. International Atomic Energy Agency.
3. United Nations Environment Programme
4. South Asia Co-Operative Environment Programme
5. Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
10. List of NGOs working in India
India is a country whose cultural heritage helps people and there is a lot less than the number
of voluntary organizations and countries. One reason for this is that here the central government or the
state governments and their officials have not been able to work here so much that self-help
organizations can work very effectively with honesty and confidence.
India
 Assam Science Society
 Bombay Natural History Society
 Centre For Environmental Education (CEE)
 Centre For Science And Environment (CSE)
 CPREnvironmental Education Center
 Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad
 Kalpavriksh
Karnataka
 Eco-Watch
 Environment Support Group
 Jalasangama Andolan
 Saahas
11. Activities taken by NGO’s in the field of environment

UGC JOURNAL NO. 45255;

https://www.ugc.ac.in/journallist/ugc_admin_journal_report.aspx?eid=NDUyNTU=
IMPACT FACTOR: 4.057 Page | 4
http://ijopaar.org/ijopams.php/; 2018 Vol. 1(1); pp. 01-09, ISSN: 456-4516
1. To coordinate between society and the government- this word seems very intuitive and
initial, but in the whole process, it is very important.In this (A) The formation of a voluntary
organization in which the right type of persons and those who believe in doing social work.
(B) duly registering of that (consistent with the legislation and procedures made prior to the
registration process of the state government), (C) according to the rules of regulation in the
environment department of the state government, the work of doing their own entry comes
mainly in the form of application, it takes time to spend money and at many levels it is
necessary to work with support from one or another of his or her acquaintance. It is also
appropriate and appropriate for this to be kept in such a good position in the organization the
persons whose influence is in both the society and the government, continue with the
continuous contact with the department by registering them.
2. Functions of environment education, consciousness, and public awakening:Thereis a
countless number of environmental education consciousness and public awareness work by
some of them have to run those tasks which are more effective than less power to more people
can be reached in less time. Thes and many more programs can be added here. It is necessary
to describe here that the field of NGOs is not at all formal(class/education) but of course
formal.
3. To bring problems of society to the government and force them to do the right thing:
There are many such examples which have become the question of government’s reputation
over the past 20 years but could not sustain the movement and resentment of the society and
the government has to make that proposal.
I. Similar dams have been proposed on other rivers in the country but there have been
strong anti-people responses.there are similar examples in Koyal Kali dam in Bihar
and Ichempalli and Bhopalpattanam (Madhya Pradesh) on Godavari and Indravati
rivers in Bastar. Gandhchirolli project in Maharastra, which will be submerged
200000 acres and 40000 people will be houseless, the great environmentalist
Babasaheb Amte has been the working area of a supported NGO.
II. There was a lot of mass movement in the context of Tehri dam Narmada
Sagar(Uttrakhand) and Sardar Sarovar dam (Narmada valley basin), which is
proposed to be 260.5 meters high on Bhagirathi river and 137.6 meters above
Narmada river and 91.4 meters high.Taking thousands of people into the category of
displaced people, and local NGOs played a major role, and finally, the movement was
adjourned with the condition that there was no confrontation of authorized and
competent environmental deformities prior to construction of the dam.
III. The chipko movement was raised by the public to prevent a large number of
deforestation from the collusion of government contractors in the hilly areas of Uttar
Pradesh. In the 1970s, the role of Gangotri village swarajya sangh Uttarkashi and
dashuali gram swaragya sangh gopeshwar remained effective for the extent that the
government had to stop the contractual practice in order to stop the contractual
practice and get the benefit of the forest products to the local people.
IV. The Mumbai Bachao Andolan, in protestagainst the problems faced by the people of
the city as a result of the growing population of Mumbai, the Mumbai save committee
has pressurized the Maharashtra government to keep the maximum population of the
city up to 80 lakh.
4. Take the help of law in the interest of society(public debate): where our intention is that
whenever the public or public administration is not accepted by the general public movement,
through the same NGOs, the public took shelter of the courts and in most cases the decision
remained in the public side.
UGC JOURNAL NO. 45255;
https://www.ugc.ac.in/journallist/ugc_admin_journal_report.aspx?eid=NDUyNTU=
IMPACT FACTOR: 4.057 Page | 5
http://ijopaar.org/ijopams.php/; 2018 Vol. 1(1); pp. 01-09, ISSN: 456-4516
12. Suggestions and remedies
Although in a country like India, voluntary organizations have played a very important role,
they have done a lot of movement to save the country’s environment but still some things in this
context and think –
1. NGOs have formed anywhere and in any way, but before the registration of these, a separate
training system should be arranged by the state administration, so that its work is not faulty
and the development of their work capacity.
2. After the registration of the NGOs by the state government, they should also be registered in
the departments in which they are interested in doing the work. This will increase the
departmental proximity.
3. A great change is the kind of requisite government or administration that the administration
should not wait for NGOs to apply for their programs. In the public interest, the NGOs should
be invited by initiating the administration.
4. A network of state-level NGOs should be created so that they can meet collectively and
occasionally interact and exchange ideas. This will increase the scope of thinking and
understanding of NGOs and will have a larger perspective in place of coupling.
5. It is very important to sit in the mind of every NGOs that these institutions do not take
professional form. These organizations are in the interest of society and nation.
13. Conclusion
It is true that with the effective role of NGOs in the field of environment, the diagnosis and
solution of many problems of the environment have been done very easily and easily. In this context,
many NGOs are doing well at the national and global level.but in the way natural disasters are
increasing, considering that the heat of the earth is increasing, along with the NGOs, the government
will have to come forward and we have to make reasonable efforts to protect the environment so that
we can provide a healthy society and clean environment to our future generations.
References
1. Orient Blackswan, (2013), “INDIA RURAL DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2012-13” page no.
174-199.
2. Desai, V., (2015) “RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA”, Himalaya Publishing House.
3. Singh, R., (2017), “INDIAN ECONOMY”, McGraw Hill Education (India) Private limited.
4. Puri V. K. & Misra S. K., (2015), “Indian economy”, ‘The environment and development’,
pp. 29-49.
5. Datt and Sundharam, (2016), “Indian Economy”, ‘Natural Resources, Economic
Development and Environmental Degradation’, pp. 93-119.
6. EUGINE, T., (2016), “ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS”, Page No.: 348-423.
7. Yojana, (2012), magazine vol. 55 (environment and development).
8. Yojana, (2013), magazine, vol.57.
9. Yojana, (2015), magazine, vol.59, climate change &sustainability.
10. Yojana, (2016), , magazine, vol. 60., pp. 55.
11. Kurukshetra, (2012), “A journal on Rural development”, June 2012, vol. 60, Environment and
Rural issues.
12. Hontelez John, (1992), ‘Friends of earth International’ in Sunderlal Bahuguna, Vandana
Shiva, M.N. Buch (ed.) Environment crisis and sustainable development, Natraj publisher,
Dehradun.

UGC JOURNAL NO. 45255;

https://www.ugc.ac.in/journallist/ugc_admin_journal_report.aspx?eid=NDUyNTU=
IMPACT FACTOR: 4.057 Page | 6
http://ijopaar.org/ijopams.php/; 2018 Vol. 1(1); pp. 01-09, ISSN: 456-4516
13. Pathak Bind Eshwar, (1989), ‘Sulabh International and rural sanitation’ in R.K Gupta, S.P
Srivastava. (ed) Action sociology and dynamics of rural development, Ajanta Publication,
Delhi.
14. Breitmeyer Helmut, Rittberger Volker, (1997), ‘Environmental NGOs in an emerging global
civil society’, paper prepared for the United Nations University Symposium.
15. Gemmill, Barbara and Abimbola Bamidele-Izu, (2002), The Role of NGOs and Civil Society
in Global Environmental Governance, in Esty, Daniel C. and Maria H. Ivanova (ed.), Global
Environmental Governance. Options and Opportunities, (New Haven) Yale School of
Forestry.
16. Karamanos, P., (2001), Voluntary Environmental Agreements: Evolution and Definition of a
New Environmental Policy Approach. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management,
44(1): p. 67-67-84.
17. Blackman, A., (2008), Can Voluntary Environmental Regulation Work in Developing
Countries? Lessons from Case Studies. Policy Studies Journal, 36(1): p. 119-141.
18. The California Institute of Public Affairs (CIPA), (2001),"An ecosystem approach to natural
resource conservation in California". CIPA Publication No. 106. Inter Environment Institute.
Retrieved 10 July 2012.
19. Mitchell, R.B., (2003), International Environmental Agreements: A Survey of Their Features,
Formation, and Effects. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 28 (1543-5938,
1543-5938): pp. 429-461.
20. Harding, R., (2006), Ecologically sustainable development: origins, implementation and
challenges. Desalination, 187(1-3): pp. 229-239
21. Earth Trends, (2003), "Biodiversity and Protected Areas-- Tanzania" (PDF). Earth Trends
Country Profiles. VrijeUniversiteit Brussel. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
22. Goldstein, G., (2005), Legal System and Wildlife Conservation: History and the Law's Effect
on Indigenous People and Community Conservation in Tanzania, The. Georgetown
International Environmental Law Review, Georgetown University Law Center (Spring).
23. Pallangyo, D. M., (2007), "Environmental Law in Tanzania; How Far Have We Gone?".
LEAD: Law, Environment & Development Journal 3 (1).
24. Zhang, Kunmin; Wen, Peng, (2008), "Review on environmental policies in China:
Evolvement, features, and evaluation". Environ. Sci. Engin. China. 2 (2): 129–
141. doi:10.1007/s11783-008-0044-6.
25. Chunmei, Wang & Zhaolan, Lin., (2010), "Environmental Policies in China over the past 10
Years: Progress, Problems and Prospects". International Society for Environmental
Information Sciences 2010 Annual Conference (ISEIS). 2: 1701–
1712. doi:10.1016/j.proenv.2010.10.181.
26. Liu, Jianguo; Diamond, Jared., (2008), "Revolutionizing China's Environmental
Protection". Science. 319: 37–38. doi:10.1126/science.1150416. PMID 18174421.
27. Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database, (2008), Department of Sustainability,
Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
28. Paul Sattler and Colin Creighton, (2002), "Australian Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment
2002". National Land and Water Resources Audit. Department of Sustainabililty,
Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Retrieved 21 September 2011.

UGC JOURNAL NO. 45255;

https://www.ugc.ac.in/journallist/ugc_admin_journal_report.aspx?eid=NDUyNTU=
IMPACT FACTOR: 4.057 Page | 7
http://ijopaar.org/ijopams.php/; 2018 Vol. 1(1); pp. 01-09, ISSN: 456-4516
29. "Royal National Park", (2011), NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 21
September 2011.
30. Australian achievements in environment protection and nature conservation 1972-1982,
(1982), Canberra: Australian Environment Council and Council of Nature Conservation
Ministers. pp. 1–2. ISBN 0-642-88655-5.
31. "Background to the Councils", (2011), Australian Government Primary Industries Ministerial
Council and Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council. Retrieved 21
September2011.
32. "Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act", (2011), Department of
Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Retrieved 21 September
2011.
33. "About the EPBC Act", (2011), Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water,
Population and Communities. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
34. "Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) fact sheet",
(2011), Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.
Retrieved 21 September 2011.
35. "Protected areas", (2011), Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
36. "Human Development Index (HDI) - 2010 Rankings", (2011), Human Development Report
Office; United Nations Development Programme. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
37. "Climate Change and Energy", (2011), The Australian Greens. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
38. Agarwal, A., (1998), “Globalization, Civil Society and Governance: The Challenges for the
21st Century.” Paper read at NORAD’s Environment Day, in Oslo, Norway.
39. Bratton, M., (1994), Civil Society and Political Transition in Africa. Boston, MA: Institute for
Development Research.
40. Breitmeier, H. & Volker, R., (2000), “Environmental NGOs in an Emerging Global Civil
Society.” In the Global Environment in the Twenty-First Century: Prospects for International
Cooperation, edited by Pamela Chasek.
41. Steve, C., (1996), Tokyo, Japan: United Nations University. Available from
http://www.ciaonet.org/ book/chasek/ Charnovitz, Steve. 1996. “Participation of Non-
Governmental Organizations in the World Trade Organization.” University of Pennsylvania
Journal of International Economic Law 17: 331-357.
42. Cohen, J. L. & Andrew A., (1992), Civil Society and Political Theory. Cambridge, MA: MIT
Press.
43. Conca, K., (1996), “Greening the UN: Environmental Organisations and the UN System.” In
NGOs, the UN, and Global Governance, edited by Thomas G. Weiss and Leon Gordenker.
44. Boulder, CO, Lynne, R., Edwards, M., (2001), “A New Model for Civil Society?”Alliance 6
(4): 10-19.
45. Esty, Daniel C., (1998), “Non-Governmental Organizations at the World Trade Organization:
Cooperation, Competition, or Exclusion.” Journal of International Economic Law 1 (1): 123-
148.
46. Esty, Daniel C., & Damien G., (2001), “Regulatory Co-opetition.” In Regulatory Competition
and Economic Integration, edited by Daniel C. Esty and Damien Geradin. New York: Oxford
University Press.
UGC JOURNAL NO. 45255;
https://www.ugc.ac.in/journallist/ugc_admin_journal_report.aspx?eid=NDUyNTU=
IMPACT FACTOR: 4.057 Page | 8
http://ijopaar.org/ijopams.php/; 2018 Vol. 1(1); pp. 01-09, ISSN: 456-4516
47. Fomerand, J., (1996), “UN Conferences: Media Events or Genuine Diplomacy?” Global
Governance 2 (3): 361-376.
48. Gaer, Felice D., (1996), “Reality Check: Human Rights NGOs Confront Governments at the
UN.” In NGOs, the UN, and Global Governance, edited by Thomas G. Weiss and Leon
Gordenker.Boulder, CO.: Lynne Rienner.

UGC JOURNAL NO. 45255;

https://www.ugc.ac.in/journallist/ugc_admin_journal_report.aspx?eid=NDUyNTU=
IMPACT FACTOR: 4.057 Page | 9