Azaad आवाज़

JULY 2021

Environmental Activism, Law and Policy

In This Issue

This edition which concentrates on environmental activism, law, and policy, aims at a deeper and more nuanced inquiry into the environmental crisis looming over our country. It deals with critical probes that question the status quo and examine a way forward.

Awaaz in Focus introduces one to the varied perspectives shared by those who are initiating grassroot level changes in and across different local communities in a region. The people interviewed vary from academic scholars to grassroot level activists and practitioners.

Awaaz in Focus hosts Dr. Kanchi Kohli, who has extensively worked on matters of law and environmental justice. She provides insight on the draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the delicate balance between protecting the rights of the indigenous people and the economic growth of the country.

The Nazariya piece on water disputes and river rights throws light on the adversities and the impact of this tussle between two regions in their claim over a common water body.

Talk Point is the segment of the Patrika wherein individuals are interviewed based upon their perception and understanding of a certain issue.

Talk Point presents a detailed conversation with the Yugma Network, exposing the readers to a very truthful perspective on issues of environmental and social justice, exploring the caste- blindness of the law and the difficulties of organizing the masses in order to start and sustain a movement against the state and its instrumentalities.

Vichaar is Azaad Awaaz’s podcast series that aims at engaging with experts and professionals to further the conversation on the marginalisation of communities.

In this edition of Vichaar, Team Azaad Awaaz was in conversation with Dr. Abhiroop Chowdhury about conservation strategies for the Sundarbans region in India. He talks to us about the importance of the Sundarbans, how and why it is unique, the challenges its local population faces and explains in detail the history of the region and the conservation projects that are being undertaken to protect it from climate change.

About Azaad Awaaz

Our initiative Azaadआवाज़ aims to tackle an erosion of empathy in our society. This monthly magazine (Patrika) aims to focus on the marginalized sections whose voices are often muted in the cacophony of flashy mainstream media discourse. When referring to the marginalization, this platform does not aim to restrict itself to the traditional focus on social aggregates like caste and race alone but aspires to include a discussion on class, gender, sexual orientation etc.