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CHAPTER I

BACKGROUND, OBJECTIVES,

METHODOLOG AND CHAPTERIZATION

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INTRODUCTION

1.0 Background

Youth is best understood as a period of transition from the dependence of childhood to

adulthoods independence. That is why, as a category, youth is more fluid than the other age

groups. Yet, age is the easiest way to define this group, particularly in relation to education

and employment, because youth is often referred to a person between the ages of living

compulsory education, and finding their first job.

The United Nations, for statistical purposes, defines youth as those persons between the ages

of 15-24 years, without prejudice to other definition by member states. The secretary- general

first referred to the current definition of youth in 1981 in his report to the general assembly

on international youth year (A/36/215, para. Eight of the annex) and indorsed it in ensuring

reports a (40/256, para. 19 of the annex). However, in both the reports, the secretary-General

also recognised that, a part from that statistical definition, the meaning of the term youth

varies in different societies around the world, when the General assembly, by its resolution

50/81 in 1995, adopted the word programme of action for youth to the year 2000 and beyond,

it reiterated that the United Nation defines youth as the age cohort of 15-24.

While each country had adopted different maximum years ranging from 24 to 40. In India,

it is taken as 16-30 years according to the draft NYP 2012; India has the largest youth

population in the world that is poised to increased further in the coming decade 70% of

Indias population is below the age of 35 years, according to the initial figures of the 2011

census, the youth population in the country including adolescents in around 550 million. This

pool of youth population needs to be engaged in the mainstream development of India. They

are not just the future, but also the present national policy makers are giving increasing focus

and high priority to youth development at international forums and what the development of

their latent potential holds for the future.

Around the world millions of young people are becoming involved locally, internationally

and globally through new programmes and infrastructure emerging approaches to

environmental governance required a greater level of community participation than did

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previous approaches in which these responsibilities largely rested with government agencies (

youth population of India: planningcommission.nic.in/aboutus/committee//wg-

repadolsent.pdf and http://census india.gov.in)

1.1 Definition of Youth in India

The national youth policy 2003 covers all the youth in the country in the age group of 13 to

35 years. It is acknowledge that since the entire person within this group are unlikely to be

one homogenous group, but rather a conglomeration of sub-groups with different social roles

and requirements, the age group may, therefore, be divided into two broad sub-groups viz.

13-19 years and 20-35 years. The youth belonging to the age group of 13-19, with the major

parts of the adolescent age group, will be regarded as a separate constituency.

The National Youth Policy documents of 2003 covers the age group of 13-35 whereas the

NYP 2012 aims to covers the age-bracket of 16-30 years however, it need to be recognized

that all young people within this age group will are likely to be a homogenous group, sharing

common concerns and needs and having different roles and responsibilities. It is, therefore,

necessary to divide this broad age brackets into three sub-groups:

The first sub-group of 16-21 years also covers adolescent whose needs and areas of

concerns are substantially from youth under the other age groups.

The second age group of 21-25 years includes those who re in the process of

completing their education and getting into a career.

The third group of 26-30 years comprises of young women and men most of whom

have completed their education, including professionals, and are more or less, settled

in their job and in their personal life.

1.2 Recent Issues and Trend of Environment in India

The environmental problems which may arise in India, due to population growth, increased

industrial and agricultural activities, and depletion of natural resources in the next 25 years,

are discussed here. Selected aspects of problems which require special attention are treated

with particular emphasis on rural situations. The present status of the various aspects of

human settlementsuch as quality of air, water, sanitation, health, and housingas well as

aspects of conservation of forests, soils, and wildlife, is outlined as far as possible in a

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quantitative manner. It is visualized that environmental management will have to be more

serious and of growing dimensions in the coming years.

It emerges from the study that two of the most serious problems which India may face in 25

years' time are water pollution and deforestation. By A.D. 2000, population in India is

projected to reach around 950 million, 65% of whom would be living in rural areas. The

environment's capacity to absorb the concomitant wastes and pollution would be significantly

reduced through the consequent growth of human activities. At present, in the rural areas, the

percentage of population with piped water-supply and exclusive sanitation facilities is less

than 10%. Unless drastic measures are taken, this percentage may not exceed 30% by A.D.

2000. Without appropriate sewerage and sanitation facilities, the accumulated wastes could

mix with open-water resources, so leading to high levels of water pollution. The effects of

mixing agricultural runoff containing wastes, pesticides, and fertilizers, in the rural water-

sources, would also need consideration.

The current practice in the rural areas of obtaining more than 90% of domestic fuels from

non-commercial sourcesfirewood, animal dung, and agricultural wasteseven if

considerably reduced, may continue and lead to deforestation and hence to soil erosion,

floods, climatic changes, and loss of precious varieties of flora and fauna. Such burning leads

to air pollution as well.

Apart from the problems of water pollution and deforestation, the problems of the urban areas

include increasing slums, inadequate transportation facilities, and industrial pollutionall of

which would have to be dealt with. Finally, the present status of environmental legislation is

reviewed, and certain policies and intense efforts for generating environmental awareness are

recommended

1.3 Major Environmental Issues

Major environmental issues are forest and agricultural degradation of land, resource depletion

(water, mineral, forest, sand, rocks etc.), environmental degradation, public health, loss

of biodiversity, loss of resilience in ecosystems, livelihood security for the poor.

The major sources of pollution in India include the rampant burning of fuelwood and biomass

such as dried waste from livestock as the primary source of energy, lack of organised garbage

and waste removal services, lack of sewage treatment operations, lack of flood control and

monsoon water drainage system, diversion of consumer waste into rivers, cremation practices

near major rivers, government mandated protection of highly polluting old public transport,

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and continued operation by Indian government of government owned, high emission plants

built between 1950 to 1980.

Air pollution, poor management of waste, growing water scarcity, falling groundwater tables,

water pollution, preservation and quality of forests, biodiversity loss, and land/soil

degradation are some of the major environmental issues India faces today.

India's population growth adds pressure to environmental issues and its resources.

a) Population growth and environmental quality

There is a long history of study and debate about the interactions between population growth

and the environment. According to a British thinker Malthus, for example, a growing

population exerts pressure on agricultural land, causing environmental degradation, and

forcing the cultivation of land of poorer as well as poorer quality. This environmental

degradation ultimately reduces agricultural yields and food availability, causes famines and

diseases and death, thereby reducing the rate of population growth.

Population growth, because it can place increased pressure on the assimilative capacity of the

environment, is also seen as a major cause of air, water, and solid-waste pollution. The result,

Malthus theorised, is an equilibrium population that enjoys low levels of both income and

environmental quality. Malthus suggested positive and preventative forced control of human

population, along with abolition of poor laws.

Malthus theory, published between 1798 and 1826, has been analysed and criticised ever

since. The American thinker Henry George, for example, observed with his characteristic

piquancy in dismissing Malthus: "Both the jayhawk and the man eat chickens; but the more

jayhawks, the fewer chickens, while the more men, the more chickens." Similarly, the

American economist Julian Lincoln Simon criticised Malthus's theory. He noted that the facts

of human history have proven the predictions of Malthus and of the Neo-Malthusians to be

flawed. Massive geometric population growth in the 20th century did not result in

a Malthusian catastrophe. The possible reasons include: increase in human knowledge, rapid

increases in productivity, innovation and application of knowledge, general improvements in

farming methods (industrial agriculture), mechanisation of work (tractors), the introduction of

high-yield varieties of wheat and other plants (Green Revolution), the use of pesticides to

control crop pests.

More recent scholarly articles concede that whilst there is no question that population growth

may contribute to environmental degradation, its effects can be modified by economic growth

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and modern technology. Research in environmental economics has uncovered a relationship

between environmental quality, measured by ambient concentrations of air pollutants and per

capita income. This so-called environmental Kuznets curve shows environmental quality

worsening up until about $5,000 of per capita income on purchasing parity basis, and

improving thereafter. The key requirement, for this to be true, is continued adoption of

technology and scientific management of resources, continued increases in productivity in

every economic sector, entrepreneurial innovation and economic expansion.

b) Water pollution

India has major water pollution issues. Discharge of untreated sewage is the single most

important cause for pollution of surface and ground water in India. There is a large gap

between generation and treatment of domestic waste water in India. The problem is not only

that India lacks sufficient treatment capacity but also that the sewage treatment plants that

exist do not operate and are not maintained. The majority of the government-owned sewage

treatment plants remain closed most of the time due to improper design or poor maintenance

or lack of reliable electricity supply to operate the plants, together with absentee employees

and poor management. The waste water generated in these areas normally percolates in the

soil or evaporates. The uncollected wastes accumulate in the urban areas cause unhygienic

conditions and release pollutants that leach to surface and groundwater.

According to a World Health Organization study, out of India's 3,119 towns and cities, just

209 have partial sewage treatment facilities, and only 8 have full wastewater treatment

facilities. Over 100 Indian cities dump untreated sewage directly into the Ganges

River. Investment is needed to bridge the gap between 29000 million litres per day of sewage

India generates, and a treatment capacity of mere 6000 million litres per day. Other sources

of water pollution include agriculture run off and small scale factories along the rivers and

lakes of India. Fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture in northwest have been found in

rivers, lakes and ground water. Flooding during monsoons worsens India's water pollution

problem, as it washes and moves all sorts of solid garbage and contaminated soils into its

rivers and wetlands.

c) Air pollution

Air pollution in India is a serious issue with the major sources being fuelwood and biomass

burning, fuel adulteration, vehicle emission and traffic congestion. Air pollution is also the

main cause of the Asian brown cloud, which is causing the monsoon to be delayed. India is

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the world's largest consumer of fuelwood, agricultural waste and biomass for energy

purposes. Traditional fuel (fuelwood, crop residue and dung cake) dominates domestic

energy use in rural India and accounts for about 90% of the total. In urban areas, this

traditional fuel constitutes about 24% of the total. Fuel wood, agriculture-waste and biomass

cake burning releases over 165 million tonnes of combustion products into India's indoor and

outdoor air every year. These biomass-based household stoves in India are also a leading

source of greenhouse emissions contributing to climate change. The annual crop burning

practice in northwest India, north India and eastern Pakistan, after monsoons, from October to

December, are a major seasonal source of air pollution. Approximately 500 million tons of

crop residues is burnt in open, releasing smoke, soot, NOx, SOx, PAHs and particulate matter

into the air. This burning has been found to be a leading cause of smog and haze problems

through the winter over Punjab, cities such as Delhi, and major population centres along the

rivers through West Bengal. In other states of India, rice straw and other crop residue burning

in open is a major source of air pollution.

Vehicle emissions are another source of air pollution. Vehicle emissions are worsened by fuel

adulteration and poor fuel combustion efficiencies from traffic congestion and low density of

quality, high speed road network per 1000 people. On per capita basis, India is a small

emitter of carbon dioxide greenhouse. In 2009, IEA estimates that it emitted about 1.4 tons of

gas per person, in comparison to the United States 17 tons per person, and a world average

of 5.3 tons per person. However, India was the third largest emitter of total carbon dioxide in

2009 at 1.65 Gt per year, after China (6.9 Gt per year) and the United States (5.2 Gt per year).

With 17 percent of world population, India contributed some 5 percent of human-sourced

carbon dioxide emission; compared to China's 24 percent share. The Air (Prevention and

Control of Pollution) Act was passed in 1981 to regulate air pollution and there have been

some measurable improvements. However, the 2012 Environmental Performance

Index ranked India as having the poorest relative air quality out of 132 countries.

d) Solid Waste Pollution

Trash and garbage is a common sight in urban and rural areas of India. It is a major source of

pollution. Indian cities alone generate more than 100 million tons of solid waste a year. Street

corners are piled with trash. Public places and sidewalks are despoiled with filth and litter,

rivers and canals act as garbage dumps. In part, India's garbage crisis is from rising

consumption. India's waste problem also points to a stunning failure of governance. In 2000,

India's Supreme Court directed all Indian cities to implement a comprehensive waste-

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management programme that would include household collection of segregated waste,

recycling and composting. These directions have simply been ignored. No major city runs a

comprehensive programme of the kind envisioned by the Supreme Court. Indeed, forget

waste segregation and recycling directive of the India's Supreme Court, the Organisation for

Economic Cooperation and Development estimates that up to 40 percent of municipal waste

in India remains simply uncollected. Even medical waste, theoretically controlled by

stringent rules that require hospitals to operate incinerators, is routinely dumped with regular

municipal garbage. A recent study found that about half of India's medical waste is

improperly disposed of.

Municipalities in Indian cities and towns have waste collection employees. However, these

are unionised government workers and their work performance is neither measured nor

monitored.

Some of the few solid waste landfills India has, near its major cities, are overflowing and

poorly managed. They have become significant sources of greenhouse emissions and

breeding sites for disease vectors such as flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, rats, and other pests.

In 2011, several Indian cities embarked on waste-to-energy projects of the type in use in

Germany, Switzerland and Japan. For example, New Delhi is implementing two incinerator

projects aimed at turning the citys trash problem into electricity resource. These plants are

being welcomed for addressing the citys chronic problems of excess untreated waste and a

shortage of electric power. They are also being welcomed by those who seek to prevent water

pollution, hygiene problems, and eliminate rotting trash that produces potent greenhouse gas

methane. The projects are being opposed by waste collection workers and local unions who

fear changing technology may deprive them of their livelihood and way of life.

Along with waste-to-energy projects, some cities and towns such as Pune, Maharashtra is

introducing competition and the privatisation of solid waste collection, street cleaning

operations and bio-mining to dispose the waste. A scientific study suggests public private

partnership is, in Indian context, more useful in solid waste management. According to this

study, government and municipal corporations must encourage PPP-based local management

through collection, transport and segregation and disposal of solid waste.

e) Land and Soil Pollution

In March 2009, the issue of Uranium poisoning in Punjab attracted press coverage. It was

alleged to be caused by fly ash ponds of thermal power stations, which reportedly lead to

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severe birth defects in children in the Faridkot and Bhatinda districts of Punjab. The news

reports claimed the uranium levels were more than 60 times the maximum safe limit. In 2012,

the Government of India confirmed that the ground water in Malwa belt of Punjab has

uranium metal that is 50% above the trace limits set by the United Nations' World Health

Organization. Scientific studies, based on over 1000 samples from various sampling points,

could not trace the source to fly ash and any sources from thermal power plants or industry as

originally alleged. The study also revealed that the uranium concentration in ground water of

Malwa district is not 60 times the WHO limits, but only 50% above the WHO limit in 3

locations. This highest concentration found in samples was less than those found naturally in

ground waters currently used for human purposes elsewhere, such as Finland. Research is

underway to identify natural or other sources for the uranium.

f) Greenhouse Gas Emission

A greenhouse gas (sometimes abbreviated GHG) is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and

emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of

the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere are water vapor,

carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. Without greenhouse gases, the average

temperature of Earth's surface would be about 15 C (59 F) colder than the present average

of 14 C (57 F). In the Solar System, the atmospheres of Venus, Mars and Titan also contain

gases that cause a greenhouse effect. Human activities since the beginning of the Industrial

Revolution (taken as the year 1750) have produced a 40% increase in the atmospheric

concentration of carbon dioxide, from 280 ppm in 1750 to 400 ppm in 2015. This increase

has occurred despite the uptake of a large portion of the emissions by various natural "sinks"

involved in the carbon cycle. Anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (i.e. emissions

produced by human activities) come from combustion of carbon-based fuels, principally coal,

oil, and natural gas, along with deforestation. India was the third largest emitter of carbon

dioxide in 2009 at 1.65 Gt per year, after China and the United States. With 17 percent of

world population, India contributed some 5 percent of human-sourced carbon dioxide

emission; compared to China's 24 percent share. On per capita basis, India emitted about 1.4

tons of carbon dioxide per person, in comparison to the United States 17 tons per person, and

a world average of 5.3 tons per person

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1.4 Youth Participation

The nature, extent and severity of environmental problems vary

tremendously from one part of the world to another. It is perhaps most logical to begin with

an overview of the state of the global environment, providing a snapshot of its present

condition, as well as a more detailed and revealing assessment of past trends and likely future

developments. This level of analysis is justified because certain issuesmost notably global

warming and ozone layer depletionare intrinsically global problems and therefore of

concern to everyone in the world. The damage of our environment is severe; the severity of

our environment can be seen clearly in this present situation through many signs, like climate

change, drought, flood, melting of the ice cape which results in increase in the sea level. The

raw materials endowed to us by the nature in abundance is now in a great danger, our

activities has created severe damaged on the environment through various activities like

Natural resources are not limitless, and the following consequences can arise from the

careless and excessive consumption of these resources:

Deforestation

Desertification

Extinction of species

Forced migration

Soil erosion

Oil depletion

Ozone depletion

Greenhouse gas increase

Extreme energy

Water pollution

Natural hazard

Destruction of natural habitats

Natural Disaster

Therefore, it is our duty to protect our world, the only place that we all depend for our living.

We must be aware of the losses that we have incurred upon the environment and the result of

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our creation. It is still not too late to get rid of the environmental problems. As a whole we

can set thing right for the coming generation.

Participation: Joint consultation in decision making, goal setting, profit sharing, teamwork,

and other such measures through which a firm attempts to foster or increase

its employees' commitment to collective objectives is called participation. There are different

types of participation they are as follows:

Public: The engagement of individuals with the various structures and institutions of

democracy. Key to public participation is the relationship between individuals and the

state.

Social: The collective activities that individuals may be involved in the associations

people form between and for themselves are at the heart of social participation

Individual; The individual choices and actions that people make as part of their daily

life and that are statements of the kind of society they want to.

The National youth policy Documents of 2003 covers the age group of Youth have both

special concerns and special responsibilities in relation to the environment. A number of

environmental risks and hazards disproportionately affect young people, who have to live for

an extended period with the deteriorating environment bequeathed to them by earlier

generations. Young people will be compelled to engage in new forms of action and activism

that will generate effective responses to ecological challenges. Before we go in to the youth

participation in environmental conservation, it is important to provide some background and

establish a clear context by identifying the current state of the environment.

Youth have both special concerns and special responsibilities in relation to the environment.

A number of environmental risks and hazards disproportionately affect young people, who

have to live for an extended period with the deteriorating environment bequeathed to them by

earlier generations. Young people will be compelled to engage in new forms of action and

activism that will generate effective responses to ecological challenges. Youth have a

stronger awareness of the issues and a greater stake in long-term sustainability, the

environment is one area in which they ought to take the lead. In many countries, a generation

that came of age politically in the 1970s organized and established environmental movements

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and green parties. To combat the greying of the greens, a new generation needs to come to

the fore. They will face challenges as pressures are brought to bear in the opposite direction.

The commercialization of every area of life affects young people too. In addition,

technologies that increasingly distance people from the environmental effects of their

consumption decisions are growing with globalization, acting as an impediment to

environmental awareness.

Youth and the Environment World YOUTH Report, 2003, the participation of youth in

environmental protection can be sought at levels and locations ranging from grass-roots

activism and participation in conservation projects to policy-making bodies and NGOs. The

role of youth can be institutionalized in policy-making through advisory bodies such as youth

councils. Many national Governments have ministries or departments with youth affairs as

part of their portfolio, though such offices tend to view youth as a population to be addressed

by public policy (often youth affairs is part of the education ministry), rather than a

resource to be tapped for participation in policy-making in a variety of areas, including the

environment. Currently, the participation of youth appears to be formalized more extensively

in international governmental organizations than at the national level. For example, UNEP

has a Youth Advisory Council that plays a supportive role. UNDP sponsors training for

young environmental leaders in the former communist countries of Central and Eastern

Europe. Chapter 25 of Agenda 21, adopted at the 1992 United Nations Conference on

Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, reads as follows: It is

imperative that youth from all parts of the world participate actively in all relevant levels of

decision-making processes because it affects their lives today and has implications for their

futures. In addition to their intellectual contribution and their ability to mobilize support, they

bring unique perspectives that need to be taken into account. In a similar spirit, paragraph

153 of the Plan of Implementation adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable

Development, held in Johannesburg in 2002, indicates the need to promote and support

youth participation in programmes and activities relating to sustainable development.

Supporting local youth councils or their equivalent, and by encouraging their establishment

where they do not exist. An International Youth Summit was held in Mogwase, South

Africa, prior to the World Summit. Youth Summit delegates established the Youth Caucus,

which was active in the PrepComm meetings leading up to the World Summit. The presence

of the Caucus members induced some countries to include youth representatives in their

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delegations. Relatively few national delegations showed such initiative, however, and among

those that did, many were unable to progress beyond token representation. Only 6 of the 100

national delegations at the second session of the Preparatory Committee for the World

Summit in February 2002 had a youth representative. Four of those representatives drafted a

letter urging each delegation to include a youth representative at subsequent meetings; at the

fourth session later in the year, however, only eight delegations had done so. In

Johannesburg, around 40 youth representatives had government passes allowing them entry

to the official proceedings of the Summit.

Global gatherings such as the Summit are also attended by NGOs, and youth can play a role

in these organizations as well. The Youth Caucus in Johannesburg included NGO activists as

well as members of government delegations. At UNCED in 1992, thousands of NGO

representatives participated in the Global Forum, a side line event in which debate was more

lively and creative than in the official Conference proceedings. The role of NGOs has

become increasingly institutionalized, so the Johannesburg Summit had a Civil Society

Secretariat independent from the United Nations Secretariat, and around 45,000 people

participated in the Civil Society Global Forum. Any institutionalization may compromise and

blunt the radicalism of NGOs that have a social movement component (a concept explored

further below). Protests constitute a standard feature of international conferences; however,

youth tend to be highly represented in them. For example, at a preparatory meeting for the

World Summit in Johannesburg, youth delegates organized a backward march through a

conference session to dramatize the fact that no progress was being made on key sustainable

development issues, and that matters indeed seemed to be moving backward. At the Summit

itself, around 100 youth representatives staged a round in circles march up and down the

escalators in the conference centre (though demonstrations inside the centre were banned, the

protesters were not removed).

NGOs operate at all levels, from local to global. In Australia, the Youth Environment Society

declares that its aim is to inform, inspire and empower Australian youth to make positive

change regarding environmental issues. Youth and Environment Europe acts as coordinating

organization for 40 national and regional environmental and youth organizations. Aside from

facilitating the exchange of information and experiences, this organization brings together

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young people from different countries to work on conservation projects at camps and

promotes environmental awareness, notably through publications such as its Youth and

Environment magazine. Outside youth-specific NGOs, young people can play various roles

in environmental groups more generally. Some groups are better than others at encouraging

youth participation. For example, the San Francisco-based Earth Island Institute annually

presents Brower Youth Awards to exemplary young environmental activists, who do not have

to be Institute members. Recipients in 2001 included a 16-year-old from New York who

organized a project to turn a desolate urban space into a garden, and an 18-year-old from

North Carolina, who succeeded in persuading an office products retailer to stock recycled

paper. Youth participation through governmental and non-governmental organizations is

important, but there is a place for other kinds of youth action and activism as well.

Environmentalism has many rootsin scientific concern for the well-being of resources and

ecosystems, in philosophical reflections about nature, in concerns about public health, and in

clubs involved initially in providing outdoor recreation opportunities. One particularly

important root is the social movement.

1.5 Indian Youth Participation in Environmental Conservation

1.5.1 CLEAN-India

CLEAN-India being a platform for environmental action for the youth has a strong focus on

giving hands on experience to young environmentalists and green innovators. Thus, we have

programs specially designed to challenge these youngsters. The Programme connects the

Urban Youth to Rural lives. They are exposed to Sustainable livelihood solutions

implemented by Development Alternatives in TARAgram Orchha. Delegates from around

the world embark on a life changing journey to the Bundelkhand region of India for exploring

village life, rural livelihoods, rain water harvesting etc. The Youth takes the initiatives and

the initiatives are for youth driven to work for the environment, through programs designed

for them like The Rural Youth Immersion Programme, Green Entrepreneurship for

Environmental Protection and Green Internship Programme. This is one of the platforms

where youth takes active part in conserving the environment of the Country.

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1.5.2 NSS (National Service Scheme)

National Service Scheme, popularly known as NSS was launched in 1969-the birth centenary

year of Mahatma Gandhi in 37 Universities involving 40,000 students with primary focus on

the Personality Development of the student volunteers through service to the community.

Today, NSS has more than 3.4. Million volunteers on its roll spread over 301 Universities

and 42 (+2) Senior Secondary Councils and Directorate of Technical Education all over the

country. Since its inception more than 3.75 crore students from various institutions of higher

learning have been benefitted out of this scheme. The Regular Activities and Special

Camping Programmes are the two main components of NSS programmes. During the two

year volunteer-ship, the volunteers devote 240 hours under Regular activities. This includes

20 hours of general orientation regarding NSS and the mode of work they have to do in their

volunteer-ship. Out of the remaining 220 hours, 30 hours are given for the campus

development and rest 190 hours for the services in the community in various areas as per the

need and priority. Presently, we have 26,202 villages/urban slums adopted for this purpose.

Every volunteer has to attend one special camping programme to become eligible for getting

the NSS Certificate issued by the Universities and +2 councils. This residential camp is of 7

days duration and is organized in the community by the NSS units based on specific themes

which keep on changing from time to time. NSS, over the years has made outstanding

contributions in the field of Mass Literacy, Environment Preservation, Waste Land

development, Watershed Management, Health Education, Community Development, Disaster

Management, Adolescent Health Development, HIV/AIDs Awareness, Drive against Social

evils, Homes for the homeless, Mass forestation drives, Communal and Social Harmony etc.

a) Some of the activities are given in the table below:

Rahul Jain 05-

07-

2015

Chatisgarh 60 and above massive tree plantation

prgm by PRAYAS NGO, Govinalay

(TRUST) in 4 different place of our

dist, Collector, tahasildar, Chairman

and 60 people participate in this

Page | 16

plantation

JHUNUBALA

DAS

05-

07-

2015

JAJPUR odisha 330 tree planted in Dharmashala

block today

MAHENDRA

KU NAYAK

30-

06-

2015

NYK- NABARANGPUR PLANTED 330 CASHEW AND

125 MANGO PLANTATION IN

KESHRIGUDA OF

NABARANGPUR DIST, ODISHA,

33 MEMBERS OF KURLUGHATI,

GANDAGUDA, KESHRIGUDA

YOUTH CLUB AND 16 SHG

LADY PARTICIPATE

PARTICIPATED IN

PLANTATION, ASCO, PIA, PD,

WATERSHED ALSO INVILVE IN

THIS CAMPAING. AGAIN ON

VANA MOHATSAV, WE PLANT

THE SAME AT KOSAGUMUDA

BLOCK.

ankush nain 24-

06-

2015

#252,ward no.4, suniar

basti, patran distt. Patiala.

Punjab

Plantation drive organised in which

a group of 20 people participated

and planted about 150 plants the side

of patran-patiala state highway.

Premalatha

Shetty

24-

06-

2015

Program Officer, NSS

Units, St Aloysius

College(Autonomous),

Light House Hill Road,

Mangaluru Karnataka

NSS Volunteers of our College

planted 100 Pepper creepers in

College Campus. This program was

organized to create awareness

among the youth regarding

environment and to love Nature.

Around two hundred NSS volunteers

and NSS officers participated in the

Program.

Page | 17

DEEPA ROY 17-

06-

2015

Uttar Banga Krishi

Viswavidyalaya Post Office

Pundibari District Cooch

Behar Pin 736165 West

Bengal

NSS Unit UBKV organized Special

Plantation Drives on the occasion of

World Environment Day i.e. 5th

June 2015. The main motto of this

event was One Student-One Plant

with a focus on that each of students

should plant at least one tree & they

will be involved in nurturing the tree

during his or her stay in the

University for preservation of

environment. Our NSS volunteers &

students planted more than 400

saplings in various areas of campus.

Total 500 trees were planted

including 20 rare species. This day

was celebrated under the supervision

of our NSS Programme Coordinator

Dr. Amarendu Mondal.

vishal 12-

06-

2015

village nauneetpur po

barian kalan teh

garhshankar dist hoshiarpur

plantation in village nauneetpur by

youth services club

Ritesh Singh 10-

06-

2015

H-14 EXT.SAINIK

COLONY JAMMU

OUR GOVT. POLYTECHNIC

COLLEGE CELEBRATE

PLANTATION DRIVE ON 8TH

OF JUNE, 2015. OUR ALL

STAFFS AND NSS VOLUNTERES

PARTICIPATED THIS ACTIVITY.

jhunu bala das 09-

06-

2015

jaraka jajpur odisha We have planted 206 trees also

organize plantation in this year.

MAHENDRA

KUMAR

09-

06-

NYKS, NABARANGPUR,

ODISHA

Plantation drives should be

undertaken in a massive way in view

Page | 18

NAYAK 2015 of the ever-increasing population,

industries and vehicles, said ER.

DILIP DASH, a World Environment

Day event. The function was

ORGANIZED BY 3 YOUTH

CLUBS, ALSO PLANT 300 TREE

In this way the NSS has carried out lots of small project concerning conservation of

environment, they are playing significant role in the conservation of environment.

1.5.3 NYKS (Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan)

India has the largest ever cohort of young people making transition to adulthood. In the

National Youth Policy-2003, youth was defined a person of age between 13-35 years is

about 41 percent and of the total youth population in the country, 69.67 percent are in rural

areas. More than 70% of the total Indian population is below the age of 35 years. It may be

noted that in the current National Youth Policy Document 2014, of the Department of Youth

Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, (MoYAS) Government of India, the youth age-

group is defined as 15-29 years, with a view to have a more focused approach, as far as

various policy interventions are concerned. Youth in the age group of 15-29 years comprise

27.5% of the population. At present, about 34% of Indias Gross National Income (GNI) is

contributed by the youth, aged 15-29 years. Youth being the most vibrant and resourceful

segment of the countrys population, they have a vital role to play in fostering and

strengthening socio-economic development. The challenge is to unleash their innate

capabilities to come out of poverty, generate development and livelihoods outcomes, which

enable them to live a healthy and meaningful life. Nonetheless, there exists a huge potential

to increase the contribution of this class of the nations citizenry by increasing their labour

force participation and their productivity.

Under NYKS youth around the countries has done a tremendous work in the sphere of

promoting the environment by taking up project like cleanliness campaign, plantation

campaign and awareness program on environment conservation, as such they have created

great impact in various parts of the countries. This is one of the youth organizations which

are actively working for the youth development in various perspectives, the organization

Page | 19

encourage the youth to actively participate in developing their personality also in developing

the country at large. Since time immemorial the youth organization has carried out lots of

developmental projects through the support of the government of India, their work across the

countries are appreciated.

1.6 Problems

India has the largest youth population in the world, as we compared the youth and the

participation rate in conservation of environment, the youth participation is found out to be

less although few participated in the conservation of the environment. Youth as such, in the

country are not fully indulged in preserving the environment which is one of the significant

areas that the whole world is concerned about. The fact that the youth participation is less is

due to various reasons given below:

The youth of this country have a mentality that keeps the environment in

the second place; the priority is given to other areas like employment,

education, sports etc.

The youth have less interest in involving in conservation of environment

Youth of this country are not encouraged by the elders to take active part

in environmental conservation

Major portion of the country is still backward, as the data state 70% of the

places still are in rural areas and thus the youth population in the rural

areas covers the major portion of the youth population. The fact reveals

that there are many youth who are not aware of the environment

degradation which is taking place in the country.

Due to the fat that India is still an underdeveloped country, there are lots of

important areas where the need is more concentrated, thus the main focus

is shifted toward other priority areas. The youth fail to contribute as they

are more concerned towards their need rather than taking active part in

conservation of the environment

The people living in the country thinks that conserving the environment of

the country is the duty of the government, therefore there is less

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participation in environment protection. The people usually wait for the

government to start doing the work and if the government make it

important issue of concern to the country the people starts to take steps,

there is no civic consciousness in the country. The people do not think that

it is their duty to conserve the environment.

1.7 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The chapter covers the methodology of research used in the

present study. The research design incorporate for the study broadly included in the

method of study, research design, research setting, sampling framework, sampling

method, sampling size, operational definition, tools used for data collection, limitation

of the study and data analysis.

The aim of the study is to examine the role of youth in conservation of environment.

It also aims at finding out the issues and challenges faced by the youth in involving in

the preservation of environment at Ukhrul District, Manipur. Methodology occupy

significant role in any types of research as the reliability of the findings highly depend

upon the method adopted by the researcher. Methodology is a function or method to

be used for knowledge and it is vital part of any research study. The quality of the

research depends on the suitability of the methodology selected for the study. The

methodology selected to explore any research problems depends on many factor

including practical and ethical constraints and decision to get most precise outcome.

In order to arrive at a valid conclusion regarding the role of youth in environmental

conservation of Ukhrul District, Manipur, the descriptive research has been followed.

Page | 21

1.7.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH

i. To study the profile of the respondent

ii. To examine the knowledge and awareness of environmental issues among the youth

in Ukhrul District, Manipur

iii. To identify the challenges faced by the youth in conservation of Environment

iv. To analyze the extent of youth participation in the conservation of environment

v. To suggest suitable measures and strategies to promote youth participation in

Environment conservation

1.7.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The present scenario of our environment is in a worst state, it is one of the most serious

problems faced by the world. As far as this problem is concern every single countries in this

planet is responsible for this. The high rate of consumption by the people living in this planet

without thinking for the next generation is the major cause for the environment depletion and

threat to the environment. For the sake of development and the so called development has

destroyed the natural resources to the extent that the world is in a state which will be difficult

for us to rejuvenate again. In the tribal areas of Ukhrul District, the environment is in a great

threat, which needs to be taken proper care, their lives depend upon the nature, they have a

close connection with the nature but they also contribute to the depletion of the natural

resources. The activities like slash/shifting cultivation, cutting down of trees for timber

extraction, extraction of charcoal etc. has been the practices of this people since time

immemorial. Wild fire is another issue which is a major threat to the environment. As the

development sweep over this place and because of the growing population much new form of

pollutions can be found, they are air pollution, water pollution, solid waste pollution etc.

Youth has a great role in environment protection and conservation, as they are highly

enthusiastic, energetic they can contribute immensely in the conservation of natural

resources. Youth are the wings of change, if they are given the opportunity and if they are

given proper guidance they can make it right. The will power of the youth is very high; they

can make innovative decision and can bring out different creative ideas. They are eager to

Page | 22

take initiatives just that we need to make them aware of the happenings, motivate them and

guide them. Some of the roles of the youth are:

Youth can initiate in promoting the conservation of natural resources by plantation.

Inspire the community

The youth is well known for their vibrant nature thus, they are the right person to

create awareness throughout the world, reached every nook and corner making the

people to start working to promote our environment.

Therefore there is no doubt that youth are the incomparable source of energy, ideas,

innovation, etc. the role of youth in every sphere is indispensable and the fact that we know,

and youth has contributed in various sector thus far. In order to make the youth involve

actively in promoting our environment they must be adequately equipped with knowledge,

awareness and skills on how to conserve and protect our environment, as such if the

awareness level of the youth created and if proper step is carried out in the early stage as fast

as possible, the environment can be saved. Youth in this regard should take actively taking

part in environmental conservation, if so we can think of having a good and better place.

Therefore this study aims at understanding the environmental issues, challenges

prevailing in Ukhrul District, Manipur and to identify the roles of the youth in creating good

environment. The present study will also analyze the roles and responsibility of youth in

environmental conservation and the factor that are hindering their participation. Furthermore

the study will also suggest suitable measures and strategies to enhance youth participation to

address the environmental issues prevailing in the study area as per the findings of the present

research study.

1.7.3 Research Questions

What are the environmental issues prevailing in Ukhrul District Manipur?

What is the Impact of environment depletion?

Why environment protection is important to create a sustainable living?

Page | 23

What are the roles of the youth in the conservation of environment?

Are the youth aware of the environmental issues?

How can they contribute to have a greener and sustainable environment?

1.7.4 Research Design

Descriptive studies are best suited where observation are made without any kind of

intervention as descriptive designs are non-intrusive and deals with naturally

occurring phenomena. Hence, the researcher has adopted descriptive research design

to obtain the relevant information from the respondents.

1.7.5 Sampling Framework

The sampling framework is designed accordingly where every item of the universe

has an equal chance of selecting in the sample. For the present study the researcher

used simple random sampling method.

1.7.6 Sample Size

The sample size consists of 50 respondents in the age group of 16-35 years has been

randomly selected from Ukhrul District of Manipur. This includes 24 male and 26

female respondents.

1.7.7 Data Collection

The data was collected by using structured interviewed scheduled. The data were

collected from 20th December 2015 to 15th January 2016.

While collecting the data, proper guidance and information were given to the

respondent regarding the study and the identity of the researcher. The participation of

the respondent was completely voluntary. As per the collection of data, structured

questionnaire were used with fixed alternative option so that the respondents have the

opportunity to express their awareness, views and participation level in the

conservation of environment.

Page | 24

1.7.8 Data processing

The data collected were systematically processed, logically sequenced, tabulated and

analyzed.

1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION

I) Youth

According to the researcher, youth is defined under the age group of 16-30 adopting

the youth age group of the draft National Youth Policy of India. Youth is defined as a

person who is married or unmarried, male or female, student or non-student and

employed or unemployed because it is the stage where they grow, make their own

choice of life and impact the society with their contribution. Falling in this age group

is vibrant, enthusiastic and they have a high spirit in changing the things around them.

This is the ripe age to have a high dream and execute it to make it real.

ii) Role of Youth

There are lots of roles in the life of youth, specifically in the conservation of

environment the role of youth are significant and inevitable as the environment

around us needs to be preserved for the future in order to sustain lives. Youth can play

vital role in conservation of environment as they are more vibrant, they have the

capability to change the situation which is worst as the environment is slowly

degrading

iii) Environment

According to the researcher, the environment means the surroundings in which the

people are living that includes forest, air, water, land, animal and the thing around

them.

iv) Environmental Conservation

According to the researcher, environment conservation means preserving the

environment surrounding them, making minimal used of the environment by not

Page | 25

effecting the environment, managing the resources available, preserving forest,

maintaining clean environment, constructing and managing the water sources,

avoiding and reducing pollution and making use of the waste materials by renewing

the waste materials.

1.9 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The study is limited to the youth of Ukhrul District, Manipur. This prevents

the researcher to make a generalized statement with the other district youth of

Manipur state. Moreover the study cannot be used to generalized the youth of

the other state as well

The population if the district is large compared to the sample size taken by the

researcher, thus the result cannot be generalized

Due to time constraints the study could not cover all the aspects of

participation of youth in environment conservation.

Due to time constraints the researcher could not cover all the villages of

Ukhrul district of Manipur thus the result of the study cannot be generalized.

1.10 DIFFICULTIES FACED BY THE RESEARCHER

The researcher faced time constraints during the data collection due to limited time

allotted for collecting the data.

1.11 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

Environment conservation is one of the major problems faced by the world. It is a

global concern. Environment preservation is very important and the studies regarding

this matter will make us more aware of the problems faced by the wold. Environment

studies enlighten us about the importance of protection and conservation of our

environment. The present environmental scenario is at worst state and it is becoming

more and more severe. We are the benefactor and therefore, it is our duty to take

proper are of our environment, starting from the grassroots level people take active

part in conserving the environment as such we can maintain the natural balance which

the natural demand. Some of the important reason for conserving our environment re

as follows:

Page | 26

a) Environmental issues being of international importance

b) High increase in degradation of environment

c) Various environmental issues like, land degradation, growing population,

agriculture growth, urbanization, poverty, poor sewage management, soil

pollution and deforestation etc.

d) Urgent need for public awareness and participation

e) Most importantly the need for youth to take active part in environmental

conservation

The present study has wider scope. Study can be carried out in various ways such as

role of women towards environmental conservation and protection may be studied as

women also played important role in conserving the environment.

A comparative study may be also conducted between different districts of Manipur as

well as with the other states.

The study will be a great help for the environmentalist, state policy makers and

NGOs to make effective plan and policy for better conservation of the environment.

This study will enable the state to be more aware of the environmental issues which is

prevailing in the state as such to take preventive measures, also to make realize that

the youth can play important role in conserving the environment thus, encourage the

youth in taking active part in the preservation of environment by involving them in

decision making, creating awareness and policy making

This study will make the elders realize that the youth can ply active role in

environmental conservation as such giving the youth more place and encouraging

them in taking active part in environmental conservation.

1.12 CHAPTERIZTION

The research is presented in five chapters. Chapter 1 includes the background, meaning

and definition of terminologies, youth participation in environmental conservation, trends

and issues, problems of the youth in environmental conservation, objectives of the study

and methodology of the study that includes research, design, operational definition,

sampling framework, sample size, data collection, tools of data collection, data

processing and limitation of the study as well as the scope of the study. Chapter 2

comprise of the review of related literature which includes various studies carried out in

Page | 27

various dimensions. Chapter 3 describes about the demographic profile of the study area

in detail. Chapter 4 presents the data analysis and interpretation. Chapter 5 deals with the

major findings, suggestions and conclusions.

Page | 28

REFERENCE

1 Agarawal V.K (2005). Environmental Law in India: Challenges for Enforcement

National Institute of Ecology New Delhi

2. Environmental Issues, Law and Technology An Indian Perspective. Ramesha

Chandrappa and Ravi.D.R, Research India Publication, Delhi, 2009,ISBN 978-81-

904362-5-0

3. GANGULY; ET, AL (2001). "Indoor Air Pollution in A Major Environmental and

Public Health , Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi

4. Thakur Kailash (1999). Environmental protection Law and Policy of India. Deep

and deep Publication PVT LTD, New Delhi

5. For a history of youth involvement in the United Nations Conference on

Environment and Development (Winnipeg, International Institute for Sustainable

Development, 1995 (source http://iisd.ca/youth/ysbk088.htm)

6. Jyoti K. Parikh, Environmental Problems of India and Their Possible Trends in

Future:(source:http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=onlin

e&aid=5953628)

7. Milind Kandlikar, Gurumurthy Ramachandran (2000): India: The causes and

consequence of particulate air pollution in Urban: A Synthesis of the

Science". Annual Review of Energy and the Environment

8. Steve Hamnera; Tripathi, Anshuman; Mishra, Rajesh Kumar; Bouskill, Nik;

Broadaway, Susan C.; Pyle, Barry H.; Ford, Timothy E.; et al. (2006). "The role

of water use patterns and sewage pollution in incidence of water-borne/enteric

diseases along the Ganges River in Varanasi India". International Journal of

Environmental Health Research 16 (2): 113132.

Page | 29

9. The Kyoto protocol referred online at: (Source:

http://www.earthsfriends.com/kyoto-protocol-summary)

10. United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change referred online at:

(Source: http://unfccc.int/2860.php)

11. CLEAN-India; referred online at: http://www.cleanindia.org/index.php/what-we-do/

12. NSS (National Service Scheme): Referred Online at:

http://nss.nic.in/dfmainviews.asp?tid=52&pageno=10

13. Draft National Youth Policy 2012, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports,

Government of India. Available at http://.www.rgniyd.gov.in/

14. Types of participation referred online at

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/participation.html#ixzz42FRtKwUJ

http://www.earthsfriends.com/kyoto-protocol-summaryhttp://unfccc.int/2860.phphttp://www.cleanindia.org/index.php/what-we-do/http://nss.nic.in/dfmainviews.asp?tid=52&pageno=10http://.www.rgniyd.gov.in/http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/participation.html#ixzz42FRtKwUJ

Page | 30

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Page | 31

REVIEW LITERATURE

2.1 Introduction

This chapter review the literature associated with the main area of interest in this

study. Review of literature is a process of gathering information from the other sources and

documenting it. In research, a body of literature is a collection of published information and

data relevant to the research question. By reviewing related literature researchers sole role is

to determine what aspect the information is pertinent to the research problems. The literature

review thus, becomes the link between the research proposed and the studies already done.

Literature review includes scholarly journals, scholarly books, authoritative data bases, and

primary sources. Sometimes it includes newspaper, magazines, films, audio and audio visuals

tapes and other secondary sources.

Many studies have been conducted in the context of environment related topics in India as

well as others countries such as the challenges, environment issues, pollution related topics,

environment and its effects on the health, global warming, climate change etc. in this study

the researcher studies the role of youth in conserving the environment, their awareness level,

and their participation level. So far no studies have been conducted on this topic in this

district (Ukhrul).

The literature review is presented under the following three thematic areas:

Environmental issues and challenges

Youth participation in environmental conservation

Measures and strategies

2.2 Environmental Issues and Challenges

A joint study by Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning (CAEP) and The

Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) ENVIRONMENT AND

DEVELOPMENT China and India (2011): China Council for International

Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) and India Council for

Page | 32

Sustainable Development (ICSD): Here in this joint study by the Chinese and India,

climate change comparatively is depicted that Depleting resources and deteriorating

environment, in both India and China, have been raising concerns across various

quarters both within the countries and outside. Climate change is an additional stress

factor to existing environmental and development challenges. Global climate change

due to rising levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) concentration in the atmosphere is now

recognized to be one of the most serious environmental challenges of the present

times. The reports of the IPCC now validate the change in climate and its

anthropogenic roots. There is enough evidence to suggest that India and China will be

one of the most severely affected countries by climate change, posing threats and

challenges at various levels. Although the overarching issues on climate change for

both India and China are similar in nature.

V.S. Ganeshamurthy, Environmental status and policy in India, environmental

resources and problems in India: says that India is a land of variety numbers of

living species, a rich country endowed by the nature. It is a home of over 45,000

plants species where the flora comprised of 15,000 species. It is also a place for

variety of animals.

Environmental problems in India can be divided into two broad categories: a) those

arising from the condition of poverty and under-development and b) those arising as

negative effects of the various process of development. The first category has to do

with the impact of health and integrity of natural resources (land, soil, water, forest,

wildlife etc.) as a result of poverty and inadequate availability, for a large section of

population, of the means to fulfil the basic human needs. The second category

pertains to unintended side effects of efforts to achieve rapid economic growth and

development. In this category will fall the distortion imposed on national resources

from poorly planned development projects and programmes and lack of attention to

long term concern by commercial and vested interest. Environmental degradation in

India has been caused by a variety of social, economic, institutional and technological

factors. Rapid growing population, urbanization, industrial, and increasing use of

pesticide and fossil fuels have all resulted in the quality and sustainability of the

environment.

Page | 33

Richard P. Tucker, A Forest History of India, Early history of Himalayan forest:

here he explain that, great devastation are generally made in the wood, partly by the

increased of population, building and agriculture partly by the wasteful habits of the

travellers, who cut down multitudes of young trees to make temporary hut, and for

fuel while the cattle and goats which browse on the mountains prevent a great part of

the seedling from rising. These are some of the ways hoe the forest or deforestation

happens in our country.

O.L. Ndubuisi and I.Q Asia, 2007: Environmental Pollution in Oil Producing

Areas of the Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria: Empirical Assessment of Trends and

Peoples Perception describes that Oil spillage and air pollution, via gas flaring,

constitute the major persistent environmental pollution problems affecting oil-

producing areas of the Niger River Delta in Nigeria. This study presents a preliminary

empirical assessment of the trend and rural communitys perception of the problems.

About 6133 major oil spill incidences were reported in area between 1976 and 2002.

This resulted to the loss of about 2.97million barrels of crude/refined oil or an average

of about 1.14105 barrels per year. Between 1976 and 1999 about 94.8 tons of

Particulate Matter (PM), 950477.0 tons of Nitrous Oxides (NOx), 190717.0 tons of

Carbon Mono Oxide (CO) and 5462.3 tons of Oxides of Sulphur (SOx) were recorded

from the annual levels of gas flared in the area. Trend equations attempted using

statistical method show that the quantity of oil spill is declining, while the number of

incidence is on the increase. A linear relationship exists between the components of

air pollution. The views of the project-affected communities are quite polarized. One

group (about 56% wished to see on-shore oil exploration and production activities

cease, while the reminder (44%) does not. The major cause of conflict between the

host community and the oil exploration and production company is environmental

pollution (51.63%). This is followed closely by youth unemployment (23.96%). The

most perceived affected environmental component is rural water supply (85%)

Shamsuddin Shahid and Manzul Kumar Hazrika, 2007 Geographic Information

System for the Evaluation of Groundwater Pollution Vulnerability of the

Northwestern Barind Tract of Bangladesh Says that Groundwater is the main

source of drinking in the north western Barind region of Bangladesh. Therefore,

Page | 34

prevention of this resource to pollution is crucial to avoid probable health and

environmental hazards. An attempt has been taken in this study to map the

vulnerability of the groundwater resource to contamination based on a multi-criteria

approach known as DRASTIC within a geographic information system. Seven

thematic maps of DRASTIC parameters are developed from available soil, borehole

litholog, groundwater fluctuations and elevation model data of the region. The maps

are integrated within geographic information system to generate the maps of

groundwater vulnerability to both agricultural pollutants and general pollutants. The

pollution vulnerability maps are validated with existing groundwater quality data. The

result shows that almost 38.1% of the area is highly vulnerable to agricultural

pollutants and 29.8% to general pollutants

Gabriela Camilleri, 2015. Air Pollution and Health: says that in many countries

around the world including in the small Maltese Islands in Europe, air pollution is

associated with increased mortality and morbidity rates as reflected by increased

hospital admissions and doctor visits not only for respiratory illnesses but also for

cardiovascular illnesses. Some studies have found that air pollution is also associated

with an increase in respiratory symptoms in lower lung function in children. In the

Maltese Islands, air pollution in mostly because of the power stations as well as traffic

emissions. During the past decade, the annual mean level of respirable suspended

particulates and oxides of nitrogen and ozone have increased substantially

TERI Environmental Survey Report, (2013); In this report the pollution study has

been carried out in the major cities, the report states that, air quality for the

respondents in the six cities over time has either become worse or has seen no change.

In terms of drinking water quality and availability, there is a perception that it has

improved in all cities barring Hyderabad, where the respondents felt it has worsened.

Surface Executive Summary x Executive Summary water quality is seen to have

worsened in all cities apart from Mumbai (no change). Five cities have seen

worsening of ground water availability (excluding Chennai) and tree and forest cover

(excluding Mumbai), and all six cities have seen a decline in the number and species

of birds and animals. Respondents from Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, and Hyderabad

have seen deterioration of waste and waste management in their city

Page | 35

UNICEF REPORT: Water Situation in India- Situation and Prospects:

Here the UN Report has described India's water pollution situation as a time bomb.

India is able to treat just 10% of its city sewage and industrial waste discharge that is

the most polluting source for rivers and water bodies. The untreated water is

discharged into water bodies due to this pollutants enter rivers, lakes and the ground

water. The drinking water that ultimately ends in the households is often highly

contaminated and carries disease-causing microbes. The victims are mostly children.

Government studies have shown that a major cause of under- five mortality was water

borne diseases. The water source over half of the Indians living in two major river

Ganga-basis and Brahmaputra was highly contaminated. An evidence of that was

raising number of arsenic affected areas in Bihar and West Bengal despite the

government spending crores, Situation in rich agriculture areas of India's wheat bowl

Haryana and Punjab is no better with high pesticide contamination. The report says

that the agencies responsible for checking industrial pollution have failed. Pollution

contributes to water scarcity by contaminating freshwater resources.

(http://www.azadindia.org/social-issues/un-report.html)

Sateesh. N. Hosamane1, Dr.G.P.Desai (August 2013: This journal says that, Rapid

economic growth has brought many benefits to India; the environment has suffered,

exposing the population serious air pollution. The consequences of pollution have led

to poor urban air quality in many Indian cities. The air pollution and the resultant air

quality can be attributed to emissions from transportation, industrial and domestic

activities. The air quality has been, therefore, an issue of social concern in the

backdrop of various developmental activities. Though the measurement of air quality

is complicated, there are a few pollutants which regulators keep a watchful eye on

through regular monitoring. The most watched pollutants include particular matter

(PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Due

to pollution, the ambient air quality in major cities in India is now very poor. The

annual average concentration of suspended particulate matter is very high in Indian

cities. In particular, many cities have exceeded the officially designated critical levels,

not to mention the ambient air quality standards set by the World Health Organization

(WHO). There is an urgent need to adopt various strategies in planning air quality,

total air quality control to improve urban air quality. Epidemiological studies should

be taken up to show how ambient air pollution is affecting peoples health and

http://www.azadindia.org/social-issues/un-report.html

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quantify this information in order to provide policy tools for air quality planning.

Exposure to air pollutants is largely beyond the control of individuals and requires

action by public authorities at the national, regional and even international levels.

Central Pollution Control Board November 2005: Status of Sewage Treatment in

India, Guidance, Planning, and Principal Coordinators Dr. B. Sengupta,

Member Secretary and Mr. P. M. Ansari, Additional Director, Report

preparation Nazim uddin, Environmental Engineer: In this report the sewage

pollution is explained about the failure of the government and the people, it is stated

that Pollution caused by sewage discharged from cities and towns is the primary cause

for degradation of our water resources. A solution to this problem not only requires

bridging the ever widening gap between sewage generation and treatment capacity

(generation being 29000 million litre per day against the existing treatment capacity

of 6000 million litre per day) but also calls for development of facilities to divert the

treated sewage for use in irrigation to prevent nutrient pollution of water bodies,

utilize the nutrient value of sewage in irrigation and bring down fresh water use in

irrigation. The use of treated sewage in irrigation was emphasised in the Water

(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974; however, by and large, the State

Governments have failed to recognize its importance during the last 30 years. It is a

matter of grave concern that due attention is not paid to operation and maintenance of

existing sewage treatment facilities by State Governments and , as a result, 45 of the

115 sewage treatment plants studied recently by Central Pollution Control Board

failed to achieve the prescribed discharge standards.

TERI (2010), this book describes the severe changes in our environment, our

environment is in a critical moment. The world is going through a serious economy

downturn, the like of which has probably not been experienced in the last 75 years. At

the same time, we faced the daunting challenges of climate change, which has been

rightly described as the defining challenges of our age. The Kyoto protocol, which

was required to implement the spirit and intent of the UN framework convention on

climate change (UNFCCC), has clearly fallen short of original expectations. At the

same time, the scientific evidence of climate change has become stronger and more

compelling.

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Just to highlight few things: the frequency and severity of drought has increased,

particularly in Asia and Africa. A detail study has been carried out on the impact of

climate change on agriculture, particularly rain-fed agriculture, and the picture

certainly does not look very bright. In fact, there is reason for gloom in several parts

of India, because it is not only climate change that is adversely impacting agriculture,

there is a whole host of other factors that have also come together, creating some

serious problems and raising problems about food security in this country.

Melting glaciers has increasingly become the evident, which has seriously implication

for perhaps half a billion of people living in the northern part of the subcontinent.

Over a period of time, the flow of water in our river system is likely to decline, which

would directly not only those who are dependent on the flow of river but also the

recharge of the ground water, which obviously will go down with lower flows. Snow

covers have decreased in the area by 10% since 1960. There are also changes in the

pattern of precipitation.

2.3 Youth Participation

European Environmental Law and Youth Participation, (4 March 2012): In

this study the European Youth Centre Strasbourg of the Council of Europe tries to

make the youth to take active part in preservation of the environment, the

European Environmental Law and Youth Participation gathered 29 participants

from 17 countries in the European Youth Centre Strasbourg in March 2012 in

order to discover and discuss possibilities of using environmental law and other

forms of advocacy for environment by young people. All participants were young

members of youth environmental organisations who wanted to share exchange and

discuss environmental topics. The aim of the project was to provide youth active

in environmental protection with useful knowledge and tools to actively advocate

for their rights and interests guaranteed by international and national legal acts.

Participants discovered together and raised awareness on the necessary knowledge

and tools to actively advocate for environment and to be involved in the process of

creating, implementing and intervening in the field of environmental law. As for

Youth and Environment Europe, this study session provided excellent possibility

for raising the capacity and strengthening co-operation within the network, finding

new partners and planning future international activities. By raising skills and

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knowledge of youth workers involved in our network, we improved the

performance of the organisation. We can also get more involved and participate

more actively in the communities where YEE has members using environmental

law for nature protection. (Taken from the internet sources from:

https://www.coe.int/t/dg4/youth/Source/Training/Study_sessions/2012_YEE.p

df)

WORLD YOUTH REPORT, (2003) emphasize that Youth have both special

concerns and special responsibilities in relation to the environment. A number of

environmental risks and hazards disproportionately affect young people, who have

to live for an extended period with the deteriorating environment bequeathed to

them by earlier generations. Young people will be compelled to engage in new

forms of action and activism that will generate effective responses to ecological

challenges. Before investigating the role youth can play in addressing

environmental issues, it is important to provide some background and establish a

clear context by identifying the current state of the environment. The nature,

extent and severity of environmental problems vary tremendously from one part

of the world to another. It is perhaps most logical to begin with an overview of the

state of the global environment, providing a snapshot of its present condition, as

well as a more detailed and revealing assessment of past trends and likely future

developments. This level of analysis is justified because certain issuesmost

notably global warming and ozone layer depletionare intrinsically global

problems and therefore of concern to everyone in the world

Noor S and Fatima N (2007) in the journal mention that a participatory approach

to environmental protection is one of the sustainable developments in

environmental perspective. The Youth Engagement Service (YES) is the most

active agency dealing with this issue. They have a view that the concept of youth

participation is very new. Youth potential is not recognized; instead youth are

considered a problem. It is high time to identify youth participation as the vital

tool for reaching out to other marginalized youth in helping to realize their full

potential as well as for nation building. Keeping in view the importance of youth

engagement in improving local environments there is a dire need of some

https://www.coe.int/t/dg4/youth/Source/Training/Study_sessions/2012_YEE.pdfhttps://www.coe.int/t/dg4/youth/Source/Training/Study_sessions/2012_YEE.pdf

Page | 39

governmental body that will design, implement and monitor all the processes as

well as provide resources for such projects.

They proposed structures can consist of the hierarchical administrative units (fig

2) right from national, provincial, district, tehsil and local levels according to their

representative tasks which will plan, design, implement and monitor the youth

engagement projects based on the suggested Youth Community Model (Fig.3)

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Fig 2.1 Youth Engagement hierarchy in administrative level

National Level (Tasks include

designing youth Engagement Plans,

implementing and monitoring of these

plans at all levels and provide

appropriate funding)

District Level (Tasks include

implementing the engagement plans as

designed and referred by national and

Provincial authorities, in the

representative Tehsils)

Local Youth Action Communities

(Tasks include taking wide range of

actions in the representative areas to

improve local degraded environment)

Provincial Level (Tasks include

planning of youth engagement plans

according to the key environmental

issues)

Tehsil Level (Tasks include formulating

youth committees and facilitating them

at every step)

P

L

A

N

I

N

G

A

C

T

I

O

N

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Fig. 2.2 Youth engagement model

Levels of

Participation

I

Inform

II

Consult

III

Involve

IV

Collaborate

V

Empower

Participation

Goals

Source: The

International

Association for

Public Participation

(Modified from

IAP2 spectrum of

Public Participation)

To obtain

feedback

from youth

on

alternatives

and decision

To work

directly the

field to ensure

that local

environmental

issues are

considered

and

consistently

understood

To partner

with the

public in each

aspect of the

decision,

including the

development

of alternatives

and the

identification

of the

preferred

solution

To place final

decision making

in the hands of

local community