Empowering Women Through Environmental Protection

Abstract

Women symbolize „Prakrati‟ means „nature‟ in Indian Philosphy. She creates and nurtures the creation to bloom. She signifies „shakti‟ the power that drives the system. Throughout the history, women have been immortalized as powerful symbols of nature. Mother earth, Earth Goddess women have personified nature and given nature its infinite meaning. Women have direct contact with natural resources like fuel, food and fodder, forest water and land specially in rural areas where 70% of Indian reside and directly dependent upon natural resources. A lot of studies on women and environment have shown that women are significant actors in natural resource management and they are major contributors to environmental rehabilitation and conservation. Women‟s direct contact with environment has produced them deep-knowledge about the environment. Thus, women have served as agriculturalists, water resource manager, and traditional scientists, among others. Women are not only knowledgeable about the environment, but they are also protective and caring. Women and the environment are closely bound and interconnected. Therefore women as beares and conserver of life, as those who first guide children, should be foremost in dedication to the environmental cause.