Political

This book by Space Applications Centre (SAC), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is an outcome of the project on National Wetland Inventory and Assessment (NWIA) . Increasing concern about how our wetlands are being influenced had led to formulation of the project entitled to create an updated database of the wetlands of India.

Wetlands defined as areas of land that are either temporarily or permanently covered by water exhibit enormous diversity according to their genesis, geographical location, water regime and chemistry. They are one of the most productive ecosystems and play crucial role in hydrological cycle. Utility-wise, wetlands directly and indirectly support millions of people in providing services such as storm and flood control, clean water supply, food, fiber and raw materials, scenic beauty, educational and recreational benefits. Thus, their identification and protection becomes very important.

Organizer: Confederation of Indian Industry CII – Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre

Venue:  CII – Sohrabji Godrej GBC, Survey No. 64, Kothagunda Post, Near Hitech City, R R District, Hyderabad

Topics:

• Introduction to life cycle assessment
• Demonstration of LCA software tool

Organizers:

• Shrushti Environment Academy (SEA), Pune
• Shrishti Eco-Research Institute (SERI), Pune 
• Indian Environment Association (IEA), Pune Chapter 
• Aavanira Biotech Pvt. Ltd., Pune

Venue: ‘Growth Lab’ Science & Technology Park, Pune-Nashik road, Opp. Panjerpole, Bhosari, Pune

Pradan is an NGO that works with poor and marginalized communities across central/eastern India. We are presently working with over 200,000 families to reduce poverty through enhancing assets/capabilities and facilitating access to sustainable income earning opportunities.

Established in 1977 in the memory of Jamnalal Bajaj, a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, the Foundation strives to serve the ideals to which Jamnalal Bajaj had dedicated his life and promotes the kind of Gandhian constructive activities in which he himself was deeply involved during his life-time.

The National Centre for Advocacy Studies (NCAS) is a social change resource centre working with social action groups, public interest professionals, and people from all over India and the Global South.

Advocacy Internship is a programme that grooms young and dedicated professionals who are committed to social activism. It seeks to cater to the needs of current campaigns for social justice. The internship programme undertakes to enrich the participants with a political perspective, knowledge base and skills required for effective public advocacy.

Apeejay Surrendra Group in association with i-Volunteer and International Business Leaders Forum, UK (IBLF) has announced the commencement of the Apeejay India Volunteer Awards 2011 (AIVA), an annual national recognition focused on rewarding work of volunteers and volunteer engaging corporate and NGOs. AIVA aims to identify champions in volunteering in India, recognize volunteers and organizations engaged in volunteering, raise awareness around volunteering, celebrate and promote this much needed effort and drive volunteering as a mainstream interest in Indians.

  The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy draws on the experiences of the Tamilnadu Women’s Collective (WC), a state-level federation of women’s groups from 1,500 villages, in the context where communities all around the world are struggling to find ways to cope with changes affecting food and water security because of the phenomenon of climate change.

The report argues that many a times, new food and water security policies at the national and international level tend to be narrow, look at each of these issues in isolation and  undermine food and water security strategies adopted by individuals and households from marginal groups. Adaptation strategies to address food security focus almost exclusively on increasing agricultural production, while ignoring health and cultural aspects of the food being produced, and the role of agriculture as a means for rural viability.

The Government of India’s 15-year old AIBP has come under much-deserved criticism for all-round non-performance. It was introduced to support states in "last mile" public irrigation projects, that is, projects which are nearly completed but whose full benefits can start flowing only after small, incremental investments are made. Yet, the AIBP has been used mostly for funding new projects.

These reforms have led to the establishment of Independent Regulatory Authorities (IRAs) in the water sector through the enactment of laws at the state level.