To develop an understanding of the relationship between (i) Ecology and Development (ii) People and Natural Resources
To develop an understanding about the present status of the environment.
To acquire knowledge of the role of the social worker towards environmental awareness, and working out strategies for maintaining ecological balance.
Unit I:
Environment and Ecology and their linkages, relationship with people and society.
Social behaviour and environment (consumerism and energy intensive life style, etc.)
Unit II:
Environmental Issues and Problems :a) Environment in the global context. b) State of India’s environment :
Land degradation and depletion
Water Pollution and Degradation of Fresh Water Reserves
Air pollution and depletion of ozone layer
Deforestation and depletion of forest cover.
Unit III:
Environment Movements and People’s initiatives to save their environment : Chipko Movement, Save Forests Movement. Anti Nuclear Struggles. Mitti-Bachao, Andolan, Movements against Big Dams-Narmada and Tehri. Eco-farming-Natural Farming Efforts.
Unit IV:
Environmental action : Need, Importance, Scope and Problems of People’s participation in protection and promotion of their environment.
Government Policies and programmes Women and Environment
Role of Voluntary Action in Environment
Unit V:
Approaches in Environmental Management
Role of Traditional, State Controlled, People controlled and Jointly managed system.
Waste Management
Role of the Social Worker
As a concerned citizen, as a mass educator, Campaigner
As a worker with NGOs
As a welfare officer in industry / government.
References:
Arnold David and Ramachandra Guha (eds), Nature, Culture, Imperialism; Essays on the Environment History of South Asia, Delhi, OUP, 1995.
Centre for Science and Environment, The State of India’s Environment: the Citizens Reports Vol I-II, New Delhi.
Chopra Ravi, Natural Bounty-Artifical Scarcity, People’s Science Institute (PSI), Dehradun.
Dansereu, Pierre, The Human Predicament 1. The Dimensions of Environmental Quality in Human Ecology in the Common Wealth Proceedings of the First Common Wealth Conference on Development and Human Ecology. Malta 18-24.London, Charles Knight and Co. Ltd. P.I.
Dogra B., Forests and People, 1980.
Gadgil Madhav, Ecology & Equity, Penguin Books, New Delhi.
Gadgil, Madhav and Ramchandra Guha, This Fissured Land: An Ecological History of India, Delhi, OUP, 1994.
Goldsmith, E. and Hildyard, N. (ed.), The Social and Environmental Effects of Large Dams; Vol I-III (Overview, Case Studies and Bibliography), Wadebridge Ecological Centre U.K.
Guha Ramchandra. The Unquiet Woods, Ecological Change and Peasant Resistance in the Himalayas, Delhi: OUP, 1991.
Heremath S.R., Krishnan B.J. All About Convention on Biological Diversity (CBI).
Krishna, Sumi, Environment Politics, Peoples lives and Development Choices, Delhi, Sage, 1996.
Mres Maria & Shiva Vandana, Eco-feminism, Delhi, 1963.
Owen, D.F. What is Ecology, Oxford University Press Oxford, 1980.