Environment Support Group (ESG) is an independent not-for-profit non-governmental organisation, registered as a Trust. Its main functions involve research, training, campaign support, and advocacy on a variety of environmental and social justice issues.
Environment Support Group started in 1996 informally as Bangalore Support Group. Following its informal association with various NGOs and Campaigns as a consultant, it was established as an independent non-profit Trust in April 1998.
ESG has worked with a wide range of organisations and coalitions at the local, regional, national and international levels in a variety of collaborations. An illustrative list includes:
At the International level: United Nations Environment Programme, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Asia Urbs Programme of the European Commission, Environment Law Institute, One World, Export Credit Agencies Reform Campaign, The Tides Foundation/Green Grants, Friends of the Earth-Japan, Association for India's Development, International Honors Program/Boston University, SANA- South Asia North America Environmental Justice Inititative.
At the National level: Involving and supporting campaigns of various coalitions and associations against environmental destruction and social injustice including Environmental Justice Initiative, Conservation and Livelihoods Network, the Right to Information network, and various Ministries of the Government.
At the regional level: With National Law School of India University, Bangalore, Karnataka Dept. of Ecology and Environment, Indo-Norwegian Environment Programme and various local governments.
At the local community level: Supporting Public Campaigns and Public Interest Litigations of Janajagriti Samithi of Nandikur (Udupi Dt.), Vimana Nildhana Vistharana Virodhi Samithi of Bajpe (Mangalore), Save Kudremukh from Mining Campaign (Chickamagalur Dt.), Parisara Samrakshana Samithi (Sirsi), Save Cubbon Park Campaign (Bangalore), Save Arkavathy Campaign (Bangalore), Shambavi River Protection Committee (Karkala), amongst others.
The main functions of ESG are in the following areas:
Community Access 2000: ESG has successfully facilitated a bid for Raichur Municipal Council of Karnataka under the new initiative of European Commission - Asia Urbs. Amongst a select few cities selected across Asia, the project, COMMUNITY ACCESS 2000, will be implemented over two years in partnership with London Borough of Brent, and Horsens and Health International of Denmark. ESG would be involved in its capacity as Associate Partner and Programme Coordinator on behalf of Raichur in the delivery of the project involving a comprehensive effort to improve urban, environmental, social and health planning for the city of Raichur located in the backward North Karnataka region.
In anticipation of the main project implementation, ESG has secured a small grant from National Foundation for India and German Technical Cooperation towards conducting a preliminary study of the urbanisation processes in Raichur. In May 2002 a consultation workshop was facilitated by ESG in Raichur. The workshop was well attended by key local government leaders and community representatives thus presenting a unique forum where the community could interact with its elected representatives. Participants enthusiastically voiced their concerns about major social, economic and environmental issues in Raichur thus achieving one of the major aims of the workshop. This formed the output of the workshop and the basis on which further research and planning work would be undertaken. (2001 - ongoing)
ESG has represented Raichur in a variety of national and international forums to present the effort including in the conference on "Cities, Poverty and Environment" organized by Hanoi People's Committee and Citynet at Hanoi, Vietnam (July 2001), "Cities of the Future" organised by Indian Ministry of Urban Affairs and European Union in Vigyan Bhavan, Delhi (October 2000) and "City Networking for a Sustainable Future and Human Unity" organised by Auroville (February 2002).
International Honours Programme: ESG in collaboration with Arunodaya Poirada (NGO) organises a month long Study Abroad experiential educational programme entitled "Cities of the 21st Century" of the International Honours Programme, an accredited academic course with the Bard College and Boston University, USA. Over 30 students drawn from Universities across the USA and 4 Travelling Faculty are facilitated by ESG in their study of ecological, cultural and economic dynamics of Chennai, Bangalore, Mysore and Raichur cities in India. The exposure includes stay in villages affected by the Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor project. ESG has facilitated this programme during 2003 and 2003 and it appears that this would be a regular feature of ESG-IHP collaboration. (January-February 2003, 2002) More information at www.ihp.edu
Solid Waste Management Training Initiative: In collaboration with the Human Health and Well Being Division of United Nations Environment Programme ESG initiated a pilot project aimed at developing the capacities of Pourakarmikas (municipal solid waste workers) of one Health Ward of the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike in evolving a sustainable strategy for management of community level municipal solid waste. As part of this project an evaluation of the work conditions of Pourakarmikas was undertaken with the aim of proposing suitable changes in appropriately managing this crucial workforce of the city. The scope of the project has now expanded with the support of the Karnataka Dept. of Environment under the Indo-Norwegian Environment Programme, and is likely to be the basis of intervention in Bangalore and other cities as well. Products of this project include a flipchart explaining the need for and instructions on separation of waste, and Nagara Nyrmalya an entertaining and informative short film which explores the complex issues of the community's role in solid waste management, and how Santhimmi, a Pourakarmika, motivates people in her neighbourhood to adopt safe solid waste management techniques. Due to the success of the programme, INEP has asked ESG to expand this programme in six more cities of Karnataka. (June 1999 and ongoing; Interim Report available.)
Chiguru: Chiguru meaning "to sprout" in Kannada is an innovative programme on environment and development issues in the context of Bangalore. Aimed at higher secondary and college students the programme seeks to use interactive techniques and experiential learning to promote an organic interest in the student of environment and development issues and the role they play in these processes. The learning revolves around 5 themes, each essential to life on earth: agni (fire), jala (water), vayu (wind), prithvi (earth), akash (ether) and pran (life). ESG is currently seeking funding for the programme that will cover 4 schools in one academic year. (June 2002, ongoing)
Research Studies for UNESCAP: ESG conducted a year-long research exercise for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific on "Integrating Environmental Considerations in Economic Policy Decision Making - A Case Study of Dakshina Kannada". This study reviewed major industrial and infrastructural developments in the environmentally and culturally unique coastal (undivided) Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, especially in the context of the "globalisation" processes. A significant result of this study has been the review of the strengths and weaknesses of environmental decision making in India. (1997-98. Synopsis Report available.)
Consultant to National Law School: ESG is consultant to the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore in a variety of training and research initiatives. During 1998, ESG conducted a study for NLSIU and the Dutch agency NOVIB on "Evaluating the Implementation of the Right to Environment in Karnataka" (1997-ongoing. Synopsis Report available.)
Review of Environmental Decision-Making Cycles in India: On the suggestion of the Union Environment Minister, ESG volunteered a paper reviewing the functioning of the Ministry of Environment and Forests during October 2000 for the Regional Offices Meeting. The specific focus of this paper was the Environmental Decision Making cycles in India, and their inconsistencies with the growing need for transparency, public involvement and technical competence in project impact review. As a follow up to this initiative, ESG proposes to prepare a series of modules for training on environmental decision making steps so as to enable a campaign for reform of the laws, policies and guidelines in collaboration with NGOs, academics and regulatory agencies.
A "Manual/Training Package on the conduct of and participation in Statutory Environmental Public Hearings" is proposed for development by ESG in collaboration with Karnataka State Dept of Environment. ESG is presently sourcing funding support for the project. (Project Brief available for research and funding support.)
International NGO Campaign to reform Export Credit Agencies: ESG is involved in the international effort to reform export credit agencies (ECAs) and ensure compliance with various human rights and environmental standards. ESG is preparing a database on Indian investments covered by various ECAs and plans to disseminate this information to build awareness about such processes. ESG was represented in the NGO Strategy Session held in Jakarta during May 2000. (Copy of Jakarta Declaration available.)
Environmental Decision Making Processes in India: A study of the Environmental Decision Making Processes in India, focusing on the need to limit the damage to environment and reduce conflict by integrating participatory processes in the decision making cycle and evolve a rationale for ecologically sensitive industrial and infrastructure development is a major focus of ESG's ongoing research. As part of this initiative, ESG has produced a recommendatory document proposing areas of reform in the functioning of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, at the behest of the Union Environment Minister, during October 2000. (Brief of Research Proposal available to potential funding sources.)
Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor: ESG has been involved along with various citizens and community groups in the cities of Bangalore, Mysore, and Mandya in demanding access to environmental, techno-economic and social impact information on the Rs. 4,000 crores (Rs. 40 billion) Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor proposed by M/s. Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise Ltd. The project involves potential dislocation (by certain estimates) of over 200,000 people and acquisition of over about 21,000 acres of land consisting of private farm-lands, wetlands and forests. In statutory Environmental Public Hearings on the project held during March 2000, ESG was instrumental in securing a commitment for divulging project information. Subsequently, the Government reneged on its commitment, proceeding to hold Adjourned Public Hearings during June and July, 2000. Citizens groups actively resisted this in Mysore, Mandya, and Bangalore, but the State responded with brutal police action selectively targeting individuals and groups pressing for transparency on the project.
A campaign condemning such action was initiated by ESG and received international support with the Chief Minister being pressurised for corrective action. ESG moved the National Human Rights Commission for an enquiry into human rights abuse and the Commission is enquiring into the petition.
ESG exposed a major fraud in the project where the developers claimed the involvement of a US firm in the consortium, while that firm denies involvement in BMIC. These and other substantive details formed the basis of ESG's representation to the Ministry of Environment and Forests during May 2001. Despite acknowledging the validity of the representation, the Ministry extended a conditional environmental clearance to the project during August 2001. Efforts are on to challenge the validity of this decision.
More recently, based on a representation made by ESG, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has filed a case against ICICI, a major financier of the project. ICICI may be violating a binding directive issued by the RBI in February 2002 regarding 'Financing of Infrastructure Projects' which warns against project financing based on state guarantees or comfort letters, as is the case in BMIC. Details are available here.
Campaign against the Cogentrix Power Project: ESG worked with Janajagriti Samithi (Public Awareness Committee) of Nandikur, in Dakshina Kannada, a committee of project affected communities, in sustaining their decade long resistance to the location of Thermal Power Plants in the environmentally sensitive and coastal Dakshina Kannada region.
Following the liberalisation of the Indian Economy, the power sector was provided special place for Foreign Direct Investment and the Mangalore Power Company, initially promoted by Cogentrix Inc. of USA, was selected as one of 8 "fast track" projects by the Indian Government, by facilitating speedy clearances in demonstrating its commitment to the liberalisation agenda. Human rights, environmental protection, sound economics and transparency in decision making were compromised in the process. The political apparatus played a significant role this travesty of governance. Here, ESG worked with the local project affected community to claim their rights and expose the serious ills in the project. This involved complete involvement and support in the Campaign and Public Interest Litigation against the project promoters, Cogentrix Inc. and China Light and Power (CLP), both in the High Court of Karnataka and Supreme Court of India. The litigation was initiated by Janajagriti Samithi and supported by then Member of Parliament, Ms. Maneka Gandhi (presently Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment). These petitions were filed on grounds of violations of environmental, social justice and planning norms. ESG deposed before the Supreme Court appointed NEERI commission enquiring into the environmental and social impact compliance of the project on behalf of Janajagriti Samithi. Consequently, the High Court of Karnataka called for a review of the project by Ministry of Environment.
A parallel initiative exposing the corruption in the project was initiated by Mr. Arun Kumar Agarwal, a finance consultant, and ESG facilitated his PIL initiative. The High Court of Karnataka convinced with the petitioners charges ordered an high level enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the project, but this ruling was subsequently stayed and dismissed by the Supreme Court.
ESG also worked with the Jenks Neighbourhood Alliance Council of Jenks City, Oklahoma, and the local communities of Mississippi in their fight against Cogentrix investments that once more reflected lax implementation of accepted environmental and social standards. ESG facilitated a solidarity alliance between the affected communities, which significantly weakened the brazen approach Cogentrix had adopted in pushing its investment plans ahead disregarding accepted standards.
A combination of all these efforts resulted in Cogentrix and CLP announcing its withdrawal from the project on December 9th, 1999. Within days the Supreme Court delivered its controversial judgement exonerating the investors of corruption, following reservation of the order for almost a year. Subsequently, ESG has been involved in campaigning for a reopening of the case on the admittance by a Member of Legislative Assembly of Karnataka that he had been offered a large sum of money by Cogentrix in return for silence on the project's adverse implications. The pullout by Cogentrix consequent to this 7 year long campaign, precipitated a situation wherein the Government of Karnataka was forced to set up a high level committee headed by Deepak Parekh to review the health of the State Energy Sector in supporting the various Independent Power Producers investments under escrow cover. The Committee rejected escrow cover for any investment given the poor financial health of the State Electricity Board, which resulted in the rejection of over 25 Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) that had been negotiated through the highly controversial MOU route. The Karnataka Government accepted this report, and in turn influenced a National Policy to not accord any escrow cover to private investors.
In a furtive attempt, CLP resumed its involvement in the Mangalore Power Company in joint venture with Tata Electric of India. ESG and Janajagriti Samithi continue to challenge this project, and it appears that the project may be abandoned, thus weakening the possibility of Nagarjuna Power Company to locate another 1,000 MW project in the same region as well.
During March 2000, ESG was invited to present its case against Cogentrix in the Permanent People's Tribunal organised by the School of Law, University of Warwick, UK. (1996 - ongoing. Extensive documentation available on request and at cost. Also check the website for PIL and other campaign material.)
A commentary documenting this struggle and various political developments relating to this project, is online at: http://elj.warwick.ac.uk/global/issue/2000-1/fernandes.html
Dalit resistance to expansion of Mangalore Airport: Vimana Nildhana Vistharana Virodhi Samithi (Citizens Alliance Against Airport Expansion), a committee of project affected communities largely constituting Dalit families, have been resisting the expansion of Bajpe airport near Mangalore for more than a decade now. ESG has facilitated the Samithi in taking the challenge to the International Civil Aviation Organisation and advise the Airports Authority of India to abandon the project as it compromises on location and design standards of safety as internationally mandated by treaty and nationally by law. (1997 - ongoing. Campaign Brief available. Also visit website for PIL.)
Campaign to Ban Mining in Kudremukh National Park: ESG is presently campaigning along with regional and international environmental groups and local communities towards seeking a ban on mining operations of Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd. (KIOCL) in the Kudremukh National Park. This campaign challenges the decision taken during emergency rule in India during the seventies allowing for iron ore mining to supply ore to Iran in exchange for oil, despite fundamental violations of wildlife and forest conservation legislation. Over the years, the mining has destroyed highly sensitive tropical evergreen "shola" forests in vast areas, threatened wildlife populations and habitats in Kudremukh and neighbouring Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, and polluted the Bhadra river causing crop losses to farming communities, wiping out aquatic life and species and threatening the health of people and wildlife. If mining were to continue, one of the few remaining vast stretches of endemic "shola" forests would be lost, and the watershed of three major rivers, the Tunga, Bhadra and Netravathi, threatened.
ESG's initiative along with various local groups and individuals has ensure that the long term mining lease that KIOCL expected during 1999 was denied, leading to only annual extensions over the past two years. As a result, further long term extensions were subjected to detailed EIAs by Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute. The decision on whether the long term clearance will be accorded to KIOCL is due during July 2001, and intensive efforts are underway to stop further mining.
The public sector export oriented KIOCL which justifies its mining as being a major foreign exchange earner, is recently lost its right to mine for long term based on a Supreme Court decision.
"'White Elephant' in a Green Forest", a Campaign Note prepared by ESG has drawn the attention of thousands of groups and individuals to this serious problem, and pressure is being exerted on the Chief Minister of Karnataka and Prime Minister of India to stop extension of mining operations. Detailed information available online at: http://www.indiatogether.org/campaigns/kudremukh/ (1997 - ongoing. Campaign Releases available.)
* Dandeli Dam: ESG along with Parisara Samrakshana Kendra, Sirsi, ran a campaign to stop a dam proposed across the Kali River by the Murdeshwar Power Corporation Ltd. (MPCL). ESG exposed Ernst and Young, the international consulting firm, for plagiarising a Rapid Environment Impact Assessment (REIA) of Tattihalla Augmentation Scheme in preparing the REIA of the Dandeli dam in an attempt to secure clearances. In what was termed as the worst ever scam in environmental decision making history of India, Indian Express provided front page main coverage to the issue in all their country-wide editions on 27 August 2000, leading to a series of further stories across the world. Forced by such circumstances, the Karnataka Government ordered a fresh EIA for the project.
Despite all the controversy, Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI) which was commissioned to conduct this study, produced the EIA within a month. On review this was found to be based on fraudulent data. In a Public Hearing held on the basis of this report on 3rd January 2001, the deposition made by ESG was considered substantive evidence against the TERI report, and the same was requested to be filed on affidavit by the District Commissioner of Uttara Kannada district. This file can be accessed along with selections from the plagiarised Ernst and Young report, press releases and press coverage at: http://web.estart.com/~esg Considering the stance of the Karnataka Forest Department against allowing the dam construction, the project is likely to be abandoned. (2000-2001)
Save Arkavathi, Save Bangalore: In commemoration of the 1999 International Day of Action for Rivers, Water and Life of the International Rivers Network ESG facilitated a citizens campaign against the decision of the Government of Karnataka to allow a massive luxury housing and recreation project of DLF Constructions in the watershed of River Arkavathi, providing about a third of Bangalore's water supply. Sanmathi women's group led this campaign in which with over 200 citizen groups and pressurised the Chief Minister of Karnataka to declare the area ecologically sensitive. Recently, the Government has proposed to declare an area of 10 kms radius of the Rivers watershed as no-development zone for all industrial and urban developments. (Report available.)
Save Cubbon Park Campaign: ESG helped initiate the sensational Save Cubbon Park Campaign during September 1998 in collaboration with Sanmathi women's group, fighting against encroachment aided by the Legislators and the Government of one of Bangalore's landmark and historic park spaces. The issue that started with ESG calling for people's involvement snowballed into a major movement that saw daily rallies by thousands involving students, community organisations, professional organisations, etc. for over a month. Due to such wide public pressure the High Court was compelled to stay the Government order to de-notify a major portion of the Park and divert it for building.
This resulted in a controversy, bringing the Legislature in loggerheads with the Judiciary for intervening to stay the Government's order. The Judiciary whilst staying the operation of the Government notification had also called for a ban on protests against the Government action and this resulted in a civil rights debate in the National Press with human rights activist Justice H. Suresh criticising the Court for curtailing civil rights as well. ESG enabled a symbolic protest against this "ban" as a threat against the Right to Express, even as it impleaded into the ongoing litigation to protect the Park permanently. The High Court has dismissed this petition during August 2001 and ESG proposes to appeal this decision in the Supreme Court.
This campaign was supported by leading theatre personalities including Jnanpith awardee Mr. Girish Karnad, Ms. Medha Patkar of the Narmada Bachao Andolan, Justice H. Suresh, Justice Nittoor Srinivasa Rao and artists, writers, students, academicians, community based groups, etc.
The Save Cubbon Park Campaign was widely reported across the country and inspired a wave of protests and alliances against the encroachment of public spaces by predatory businesses, politicians and communal forces. (September 1998 - ongoing. Campaign Releases and articles available. Also visit ESG website for details.)
Shambavi River Protection Committee: River Shambavi emerges at Karkala of Udupi district in the foothills of the Western Ghats and flows down into the Arabian Sea where it is known as Mulki. Even as communities along the Mulki were resisting pressures of Cogentrix to locate its power plant, upstream, another US multinational, Engelhard, illegally built a pigment and dye manufacturing unit, the produce being exported for use in US Dollar mints. Local communities who resisted were terrorised by the company and local elected representatives.
ESG provided solidarity support to the local communities who grouped as the Shambavi River Protection Committee, and enabled them in securing an Expert Committee investigation initiated by the Karnataka Dep. Chief Minister based on a debate held in the Karnataka State Assembly during November 1997. Though the report was suppressed from public view, the construction of this factory which was almost completed without any statutory compliance whatsoever, was stopped by public action which included cutting off access bridges and blocking roads. The communities justified this action as completing the task of law enforcement that should have been normally achieved by the State.
Soon after Engelhard announced its pullout from this hazardous facility and the company was closed down. ESG continues to campaign with the Government to make the Expert Committee report public and is pursuing action against Engelhard and its consultants for engaging in such corrupt and illegal acts and abusing human rights of the local communities through terror tactics. (1997-98. Campaign Report available.)
Campaign against unethical vaccination: ESG successfully initiated a campaign against the abuse of the Hepatitis B vaccination programme by various commercial groups and MNCs. As a result of this campaign, the Health Minister of Karnataka ordered a high level enquiry and has written to the Health Minister of India urging the need for a National Immunisation Policy. The Campaign was supported by leading community health expert, Dr. Shirdi Prasad Tekur, Dr. Prakash Rao of the Drug Action Forum, Community Health Cell, St. John's Medical College Hospital and Sanmathi women's group. (Jan 99. Campaign Release available.)
Barge Mounted Project of EuroKapital of Germany: ESG was instrumental in lobbying German Parliamentarians during 1997 and forcing the pullout of EuroKapital, a German company that was proposing to locate a barge mounted power plant in the ecologically fragile Mulki-Pavanje estuarine region of Dakshina Kannada.(1996).
ESG is a core member of Bangalore Response, a network of various NGOs and health based organisations in Bangalore responding with disaster relief. During the recent Gujarat Earthquake ESG played a significant role in coordinating and disseminating earthquake relief and rehabilitation information. Details online at: www.onlinevolunteers.org
ESG extended research support in the making of the environmental video documentary "Fly Ash Over India", by Siobhan Wall, formerly with London Guildhall University. This documentary assesses the environmental impacts of locating thermal power plants in the ecologically sensitive Dakshina Kannada district, and specifically addresses the manner in which Cogentrix has violated local social and environmental concerns. The documentary was premiered on the World Environment Day, 1998 in collaboration with The British Library (Bangalore), and subsequent premier shows were held in the Visweswaraya Industrial and Technological Museum (Bangalore), Sandesha Foundation (Mangalore), MGM College (Manipal). The documentary was reported on Star News as part of their observation of World Environment Day 1998. (Documentary copies available for sale.)
"The Truth Behind Power Deals in India" was the theme of a talk by Abhay Mehta, author of the controversial and critically acclaimed book "Power Play". This talk was organised by ESG in collaboration with the Association of British Scholars at The British Council Library, Bangalore on 25 February 2000 and a similar talk held on the 26th February at Dr. Shivarama Karanth Hall of Mangalore University in collaboration with Consumers Forum (Basrur and Mangalore) and Janajagriti Samithi of Nandikur (Udupi). The talks were widely covered by the media and helped influence a debate for transparency in the Karnataka power sector. (Copies of book available for sale.)
In collaboration with the Karnataka State Dept. of Ecology and Environment and Centre for Clean Environment Technology of Bangalore University, ESG held a talk on "Environment and Human Health" by Dr. Hiremagalur Gopalan, Task Manager, (Environmental Health), Division Of Environmental Policy Development And Law, United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi, Kenya, on 13 December 1999 at the Senate Hall, Central College, Bangalore.
ESG conducted a Public Meeting on "Judiciary and the Public Interest" in collaboration with the National Alliance of People's Movement and Janajagriti Samithi, Nandikur during May 1997. The panel of discussants included Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, Justice Jeevan Reddy, Supreme Court advocate Mr. M. C. Mehta and trade unionist Prof. Babu Mathew.
Workshop for Subordinate Judiciary: ESG in partnership with the Karnataka Judicial Academy, Bangalore and the Environmental Law Institute, USA conducted a two-day Workshop on "Judicial Enforcement Of Environmental Law In Karnataka". The goal of this program was to strengthen the judiciary's capacity to enforce environmental laws and regulations. Participants included 25 judges of the subordinate judiciary in Karnataka, 10 public prosecutors from Karnataka and 5 representatives from NGOs. (August 2002)
ESG-Oneworld Website Development Training for NGOs: A 4 day "Website Development Training Wokshop" was organised by ESG in collaboration with Oneworld - South Asia at the software training centre of SASKEN Communication Technologies Ltd., the sponsor, between 18-21st January 2001. Over 15 NGOs and people's organisations participated in the workshop, and achieved the purpose of setting up the trial websites. This was the second such initiative of ESG with Oneworld - South Asia, the first being a similar training conducted 30 October - 1st November 1999 in collaboration with One World (South Asia) and sponsored by Philips Software at its Software Development Centre. Over 20 NGOs from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had benefited then. Post-workshop training is enabled by way of email discussion groups and by holding refresher courses.
The effort is to help build Web Solidarity amongst NGOs and direct stories on a variety of environment, development and human rights initiative onto the One World website. (Report available.)
A 3 day residential Experiential workshop on the "Environmental and Developmental Challenges of Bangalore" was organised by ESG in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Bangalore (South Parade), 30 July to 1st August, 1999. Participants included media persons, NGO, CBO and Government representatives and activists. Learning experiences were organised by field exposure to a variety of issues including urban planning, pollution and waste management, traffic management, slum living conditions, environmental health, judicial interventions, energy demands and power sector planning, biological control of urban weed problems, etc. The programme secured the active involvement of experts from the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Karnataka State Forest Department, Karnataka State Police Department (Traffic Cell), Biological Control Research Laboratories, Karnataka Dept. of Forest, Ecology and Environment, etc. (Report available.)
ESG conducted a Workshop on the "The Truth about the Cogentrix Deal" during June 1997 in colloboration with the National Alliance of People's Movement and Janajagriti Samithi. This was attended by leading media representatives and public interest advocates. Leading expert discussants included, energy experts Dr. Amulya K. N. Reddy of the International Energy Initiative, Dr. V. Ranganathan of the Indian Institute of Management, and Dr. D. K. Subramanian of the Indian Institute of Science.
"Mulki Under Seige": A training/campaign workshop was held by ESG at Padubidri, Dakshina Kannada in collaboration with Janajagriti Samithi, Nandikur, and with support from the National Environmental Awareness Campaign of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The workshop participants, being local villagers, academics, lawyers and the media, involved in making a mass representation to the Union Environment Minister Suresh Prabhu to not allow the proposed location of the Cogentrix and Nagarjuna thermal power stations on the banks of the ecologically fragile Mulki estuary and take action against the Engelhard Corporation for illegally developing a pigment facility at the source of the river. (14 March 1999. Report available.)
ESG periodically supports experiential training programmes for student groups. Some work in this area include advising the Law Reform Project of the National Law School of India University, supporting Global Ecology Programme of the International Honours Programme, Rotary Foundation, Centre for Environment Education, Student Projects of Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore, Institute of Finance and International Management-Bangalore and various local schools and colleges.
As part of its advocacy work ESG has conducted/supported over 50 Press conferences on a variety of public interest issues in collaboration with its partners. (Some Press Releases are archived on the website.)
Environment Support Group is an openly structured organisation that has achieved high levels of participation in its activities from its Full Time Staff, Trustees, Volunteers and Advisory Panel.
Full time Working TeamLeo F. Saldanha is full-time Coordinator of ESG. He has a background in Environmental Science from St. Joseph's College, Bangalore University. He has gained wide-ranging experience in the areas of Environmental Law and Policy, Decentralisation, Urban Planning and a variety of Human Rights and Development related issues working with NGOs for over a decade. He is a trainer on environmental law issues and various NGO training programmes. In recognition of his work, the Association for India's Development, USA, has nominated him under their AID Saathi programme.
Bhargavi S. Rao is Coordinator of Educational Programmes at ESG. She has a M. Phil. in Botany from Bangalore University. Prior to joining ESG she has worked in the Dept. of Microbiology and Cell Biology of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, worked as a lecturer in the BMS Women's College and as high-school teacher in Aurobindo School. She coordinates ESG's student awareness campaigns, educational programmes and helps research on Campaign initiatives.
K. R. Mallesha is Office Coordinator at ESG. He has a background in Social Sciences from the Bangalore University and has a decade long experience working with NGOs. He is office administrator and coordinates documentation and ESG's Press Campaigns. He assists in coordinating the Solid Waste Management initiative and is involved in field organizing for various campaign initiatives.
Shammanna T. J. Benekal is a Community Organiser at ESG. He has a Graduate Degree in Social Sciences and works with ESG on the Kudremukh Campaign as well as training programmes of Solid Waste Management initiatives. He has over a decade of experience in the NGO sector, having worked primarily on issues related to Child Labour with a variety of NGOs in Karnataka.
Rajmohan Pillai having completed his Bachelors in Environmental Engineering from Mysore University and P.G. Degree in Finance and Marketing from Goa Institute of Management has six years experience working on large water treatment projects in the industrial sector. He works on the BMIC and Kudremukh campaigns as well as the Raichur Community Access project.
Nagini Prasad is Coordinator of Campaigns at ESG. She is presently completing an M.S. in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology from the University of Maryland, USA having achieved a Graduate Degree in Economics from Macquarie University, Australia. She has 3 years corporate work experience with Anderson Consulting, and a variety of work exposures to NGOs in the Washington DC area. She assists in research work related to ESG's campaigns and comparative assessment of environmental decision-making. She is an active volunteer of the Association for India's Development.
Sarita Phalgunan is Information Coordinator with a Graduate degree from St. Joseph's College, Bangalore University. She has extensive experience in documentation of developmental information, having previous worked with Centre for Education and Documentation, in a role that included setting up their Bangalore office.
Deepashree is a Research Assistant who has a Bachelors degree in Electronics Engineer from SJCE, Mysore and training in Public Administration.
Core Support Team (Voluntary)Dr. Robert John is a Tropical Plant Ecologist presently researching at the Dept. of Botony, University of Georgia, USA. He has a Ph.D. from the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and his past degrees include M. Sc. and M Tech from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. His research interest include tropical forest ecology and management, conservation biology, protected area management and land use policy.
Arthur Pereira is an active human rights activist in Mangalore and has successfully led the resistance of Dalit and minority communities against the expansion of the Bajpe airport for over a decade now, on grounds that the project is techno-economically unfeasible and environmentally and socially unjust. He is well versed on matters relating to Land Acquisition and has helped hundreds of farmers to benefit from the provisions of Land Reforms Act.
Subramanian Vincent is a Software Engineer having worked extensively in India and the USA. He is presently full-time editor of the online journal Indiatogether (http://www.indiatogether.org).
Madhusudhan Kopparam is a Communications Specialist with M.S. in Mass Communications from Bangalore University. He runs a Communications and Advertising firm Manasu in Bangalore, and is actively involved in a variety of environmental and animal rights campaigns.
Dr. Ananth Chikkatur has a Ph. D. in Experimental Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA. He is also an active volunteer in the Association for India's Development, USA and Asha, USA. His interest areas include people's movements on environmental and social justice issues and alternative energy technologies.
Dr. Subramanya Sastry has a Ph. D. in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He has helped organize the online support site for the Narmada Bachao Andolan, www.narmada.org and has been a part of Asha, USA. His interests include various people's initiatives in environmental and social justice issues.
Advisory PanelDr. Subrayan Prasanna has recently retired as Professor of Urban and Regional Planning from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. He has made extensive contributions in a variety of urban and regional planning areas, is a leading expert on issues related to municipal law, urban finance and decentralisation of urban administration and is also an architect. He assists a variety of civil society organisations in advocating planned and decentralised development for urban and industrial areas. He is actively involved in ESG's Community Access project at Raichur, Karnataka.
Dr. Lakshmi Nilakantan is a Statistician with a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, USA and MS from Mc Gill University, Montreal. She has made seminal contributions in the area of Game Theory, and has critically acclaimed publications in leading journals of Mathematics. She has several years of teaching experience in Minnesota, Indian Statistical Institute, and Indian Institute of Management. She has had corporate experience with Gallup, and is presently an independent consultant. She is actively involved in ESG's Community Access project at Raichur, Karnataka and in reviewing the surveys on the Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project.
Dr. Shirdi Prasad Tekur is an expert in Community Health, practicing Child Specialist and a well-known practitioner in Alternative Health Systems. An alumnus of St. John's Medical College Hospital, he has discharged his services as a medical professional in the Defense Services in order to involve more actively in civil society. He is actively involved in ESG's Community Access project at Raichur, Karnataka.
Arlene Manoharan is a Social Worker by training with a Masters in Social Work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She has worked with Sneha Sadan, Mumbai, trainer for Street Educators in Bangalore and presently with the Centre for Child and Law of NLSIU.
Desmond Fernandes is the Coordinator of the Insitute of Tourism and Development Studies and Faculty at DeMontford University, Bedford, UK. He is a leading researcher on issues related to the globalisation of tourism sector and human rights violations of communities caught in war and development related conflicts.
Environment Support Group (r)