Positioning sustainable development as a people's programme -the institutional response

Abstract

Institutionalization and intervention strategies today have come to playa major role in the publicdiscourse. This is a truism of environmental law especially in the third world which is trying to keeppace with the global economic development while also carrying the burden of environmental degradationheritage that was passed on by the unscrupulous development strategies, both indigenous andtransnational. Developing countries today are increasingly indulging in redrafting their economicpolicies within the language of environmental conservation.

Thankfully in India, this redrafting has been conditioned by a conversation between the institutions ofgovernance, the judiciary and most importantly organized groups of the public. Policies and policyimplementation in India have been the results of this conversation.

My paper brings out instances of how such conversation can be an effective instrument in makingsustainable development an achievable goal. Today in India environment and sustainable developmenthave become a people's programme which is not just aimed at drawingj udicial attention but translatingsuch judicial directions into achievable programmes. I highlight here an example of organized groupactivity making sustainable development not just a constitutional guarantee but a people's movementfor better life.

The judicial statement in Tarun Bharat Sangh Vs. Union ofIndia (AIR 1992 SC 514) is a reflection ofsustainable development becoming a campaign. The court said, "Litigation should not be treated asthe usual adversariall itigation. Petitioners are acting in aid of a purpose high on the national agenda.Petitioners concern for the environment, ecology, and the wi IdIife should be shared by the government".This statement sums up the philosophy of public life today, a conversation between the institutions inthe society today.

Such conversation has a demonstrable effect in environmental policy today. Today the administrativepol icies are directed at insisting environmental audit of every econom ic activity.