World NGO Day and our Environment

By – Dr. N. Munal Meitei
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” — Muhammad Ali
World Non-Governmental Organization Day is observed on February 27 to recognise the invaluable work of the NGOs in the nation building and a sustainable world. N.G.Os are nonprofit, voluntary citizen’s group that serve in fields of the humanitarian service & environment.
This day was originally founded in 2009 by Marcis Liors Skadmanis, however, it was observed for the first time on February 27, 2014 by the United Nations. NGOs play multiple roles that are essential for the well-being of the society. Their impact on humanitarian and emergency assistance during and after crisis, such as natural disasters, armed conflicts, stands out for the aid, like food, medicine and shelter.
The best role of NGOs in the society is to act as a bridge between the government and grassroots, filling service gaps for vulnerable populations while advocating for systemic, long-term social change. The role of NGOs in environmental protection in the face of present crisis, like the campaigns against deforestation, climate change and biodiversity loss, trying to mitigate and halt their effects are imperative.
NGOs are the catalysts for change in education, healthcare and climate action and renewable energy adoption. Through awareness campaigns, policy advocacy, and on-the-ground initiatives, NGOs contribute significantly to mitigate the impact of climate change and preserving our planet for the future generations.
India enjoys a reputation of being one of the richest bio-geographical regions in the world, although it suffers tremendously from environmental challenges. Our natural resources are dispersed along geographical boundaries within human settlements and remote and inaccessible places. Furthermore, none of the government agencies will be able to hold or take care of those resources using the best methods. It’s at this stage for the country that NGOs play a key role.
Notwithstanding, there is a need to find solutions that can be applied to make the sustainable future a reality. The interplay of different non-governmental organizations, government agencies, the corporate sector, and the public becomes imperative to efficiently approaching India’s environmental problems.
The NGOs are the most significant driving force towards the conservation of an eco-friendly environment and sustainability in India at large. They become the link between bureaucracy and real-time execution of these policies, raise awareness and actively participate in preserving India’s natural resources.
Today, with the rising need for environmental awareness and enforcement, the situation has become more severe than ever since. A crucial consequence of the global acceptance of the role of NGOs in ecological conservation has been prioritized. The NGOs, at either international, national, or regional levels, have been working hard to achieve these goals.
NGOs, partnership with community encourage sustainable behaviours to implements the tree planting, waste management and sustainable agriculture projects. In those situations when environmental regulations are being breached, NGOs initiate legal action to counteract polluters or the entities that are accountable for environmental damage. They serve like foresters to protect environmental regulations from being violated.
NGOs give training and capacity-building initiatives to communities and individuals as the most influencing members of the society, and they also equip with proactive strategies for environmental conservation. NGOs play a critical role in tackling the water crisis ensuring that everyone has a good hygienic and healthy future.
NGOs dedicated to wildlife protection undertake a variety of initiatives to address the threats and conservative measures. Wildlife Trust of India has proved to be a driving force in protecting endangered species like tigers and elephants in the country and anti-poaching programs. Many NGOs focus on the conservation of specific species that are at risk of extinction just like Sangai Protection Forum in Manipur.
NGOs engage in educational outreach programs, workshops, and campaigns to inform people about wildlife issues, promote sustainable lifestyles, and empower local communities to become stewards of their natural resources. NGOs create pressure on the Government institutions and business enterprises to set up protected facilities and fight against poaching and wildlife crime.
Wildlife Protection Society of India, Bomby Historical Society, Animals matter to me, Wildlife Conservation Society India are some of the important national level NGOs and World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy and Greenpeace are some of the global NGOs that address on Wildlife.
The role of NGOs that focus on nutrition and health are essential to India’s social fabric, especially when it comes to tackling issues like food insecurity and malnutrition. NGOs also have the biggest role in diminishing disaster risk reduction and in disaster relief. The role of NGOs in waste management is crucial for addressing the environmental and social impact of waste.
NGOs work with governments, international organisations, and local communities to establish a foundation that not only meets the immediate needs but also gives people the tools they need to be more resilient in the face of future difficulties. From educating communities and setting up early warning systems to offering both short-term relief and long-term assistance, NGOs are crucial in progress of the country. NGOs are really instrumental in community development programs to improve the quality of life for individuals and Society.
(The author is Environmentalist, presently working as DFO/Chandel, [email protected])