Norma Alvares | |
---|---|
Born | Mumbai, India |
Occupation(s) | Social worker, environmental activist, Lawyer |
Known for | Social service |
Spouse | Claude Alvares |
Children | 3 children |
Awards | Padma Shri Yashadamini Puraskar |
Website | Profile |
Norma Alvares is an Indian lawyer, social worker and environmental activist.[1][2]
Born in a Mangalorean Catholic family, she graduated in law from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai and entered environmental activism.[1] Norma Alvares is married to Claude Alvares, another Mangalorean Catholic activist and the couple currently lives in Parra, Goa with their three children, Rahul, Samir and Milind.[2]
Under the aegis of the Goa Foundation that was started by her husband, she initiated a public interest litigation (PIL) in 1987 to save the sand dunes of Goa, the first ever PIL filed in the state.[1] She has been involved in over 100 PILs[3][4] and has served as an amicus curiae.[5] Her efforts are reported in winning a favourable court order for blocking a DuPont factory and in another one which restricted the mining activities in Goa.[1] She is the president of the Goa branch of People for Animals[6] and is the founder of Other India Book Store[7] and Other India Press.[8] She was honored by the Government of India, in 2002, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri.[9] The Government of Goa honoured Alvares with the Yashadamini Puraskar in 2001.[10]