🌍 Community Organizations to Promote Environment

📘 Important for GNM/BSc Nursing, NHM, AIIMS, NORCET, GPSC & Community Health Nursing Exams

---

🔰 Introduction:

Community organizations are governmental, non-governmental, and international agencies that work to protect, conserve, and promote a healthy environment through policies, programs, and public awareness.

👉 These agencies function at various levels (local to global) and play a key role in environmental health and sustainable development.

---

🏛️ Levels & Types of Environmental Agencies:

---

🔵 1. Local Level Agencies:

These operate within municipalities, villages, or districts to address immediate environmental concerns.

🧾 Examples:

• 🏘️ Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)
• 🏢 Urban Municipal Corporations
• 🚛 Sanitation Departments (waste collection, drainage)
• 🏥 Primary Health Centers (PHCs) – monitor environmental sanitation
• 🌱 Eco Clubs in schools and communities

---

🟢 2. National Level Agencies (India):

These bodies set national policies, conduct research, and implement environmental protection programs.

🧾 Key Agencies:

🏢 Agency	🔍 Role
MoEFCC (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change)	Formulates environmental policies
CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board)	Monitors & controls air/water pollution
SPCBs (State Pollution Control Boards)	Implement CPCB policies in states
NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute)	Environmental research & training
NHAI/NRSC	Green corridor, road greening
National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)	Conservation of biodiversity

---

🟣 3. International Level Agencies:

These organizations support global environmental health, funding, and cooperation.

🌐 Major Global Organizations:

🌍 Agency	🔍 Role
WHO (World Health Organization)	Promotes environmental health standards
UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)	Coordinates international environmental efforts
UNICEF	Safe water, sanitation programs for children
WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)	Conservation of wildlife and forests
Greenpeace	Environmental activism, pollution control
World Bank	Funds green development projects
IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)	Research on global warming & climate change

---

👩‍⚕️ Nurse’s Role in Environmental Promotion:

👩‍⚕️ Collaborate with local health & sanitation bodies
👩‍⚕️ Educate the community on waste disposal, water safety
👩‍⚕️ Participate in eco-clubs and school health activities
👩‍⚕️ Report environmental hazards like pollution or vector breeding
👩‍⚕️ Promote tree plantation, clean surroundings, plastic ban

---

📚 Golden One-Liners for Revision:

🟨 CPCB controls air & water pollution
🟨 MoEFCC is India’s nodal environment ministry
🟨 WHO sets international environmental health standards
🟨 UNEP coordinates global efforts on environment
🟨 NEERI conducts environmental engineering research

---

✅ Top 5 MCQs for Practice:

Q1. Which agency in India monitors pollution control?
🅰️ WHO
🅱️ MoHFW
✅ 🅲️ CPCB
🅳️ ICMR

Q2. The global agency for environmental health under the UN is:
🅰️ FAO
🅱️ IPCC
✅ 🅲️ UNEP
🅳️ ILO

Q3. Which is a local-level environmental agency in villages?
🅰️ CPCB
✅ 🅱️ Panchayati Raj
🅲️ WWF
🅳️ WHO

Q4. The research institute under CSIR for environmental studies is:
🅰️ ICMR
🅱️ UNICEF
✅ 🅲️ NEERI
🅳️ FSSAI

Q5. Which organization is known for wildlife and forest protection?
🅰️ CPCB
🅱️ IPCC
🅲️ WHO
✅ 🅳️ WWF

📜 Legislations and Acts Regulating Environmental Hygiene

📘 Important for GNM/BSc Nursing, NHM, AIIMS, NORCET, GPSC & Community Health Nursing Exams

---

🔰 Introduction:

Environmental hygiene laws are legal frameworks established by the government to:

✔️ Prevent environmental pollution
✔️ Promote public health
✔️ Ensure sanitation, water safety, and clean surroundings
✔️ Regulate industrial and waste management activities

These laws help maintain a safe and sustainable environment for all citizens.

---

⚖️ Key Legislations/Acts in India for Environmental Hygiene:

---

🟩 1. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

• Umbrella Act for all environment-related laws in India
• Enacted after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy
• Gives central government power to regulate pollution, hazardous waste, emissions
• Covers air, water, soil, noise, and hazardous chemicals

✅ Most comprehensive act on environmental hygiene

---

💧 2. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

• First major environmental law in India
• Aims to prevent and control water pollution
• Establishes CPCB and SPCBs
• Controls industrial effluent discharge in water bodies

---

🌫️ 3. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

• Controls and prevents air pollution from industries and vehicles
• Sets standards for air quality and emission control
• Enforces smoke control zones and chimney heights

---

🗑️ 4. Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016 (amended 2018)

• Regulates segregation, collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal of biomedical waste
• Mandates color-coded bins
• Applies to hospitals, clinics, labs, vaccination camps

---

🧪 5. Hazardous Waste Management Rules, 2016

• Ensures safe handling, storage, transport, and disposal of hazardous industrial waste
• Covers chemical, electronic, radioactive wastes

---

🔊 6. The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000

• Limits ambient noise levels in different zones (residential, silent, commercial)
• Prohibits loudspeakers, crackers during specific hours
• Declares “Silence Zones” near hospitals and schools

---

🏭 7. Factories Act, 1948 (amended)

• Ensures sanitary working conditions in factories
• Mandates ventilation, lighting, drainage, drinking water, toilets
• Protects workers from occupational hazards

---

🚮 8. Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016

• Promotes door-to-door collection, segregation, composting, and recycling
• Applicable to urban local bodies, residential areas, commercial units
• Focus on reduction of open dumping and landfill burden

---

🏘️ 9. Public Health Act (various states)

• Regulates drainage, waste disposal, water supply, and disease control
• Local health inspectors ensure sanitation in public places

---

🌳 10. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 & Forest Conservation Act, 1980

• Promote biodiversity and ecological balance
• Protect forests and wildlife from deforestation and human exploitation

---

👩‍⚕️ Nurse’s Role in Environmental Legislation Implementation:

👩‍⚕️ Educate community about health hazards of pollution
👩‍⚕️ Promote safe waste disposal and hygiene practices
👩‍⚕️ Report violations (e.g., illegal dumping, open defecation)
👩‍⚕️ Participate in health inspections & awareness drives
👩‍⚕️ Support enforcement of biomedical waste rules in hospitals

---

📚 Golden One-Liners for Revision:

🟨 EPA 1986 is the umbrella act for environmental laws
🟨 Water Act 1974 was the first environmental law in India
🟨 Noise Rules 2000 protect silent zones and restrict loudspeakers
🟨 Biomedical Waste Rules 2016 apply to all healthcare facilities
🟨 Factories Act ensures sanitary working conditions

---

✅ Top 5 MCQs for Practice:

Q1. Which act is considered the umbrella act for environmental laws in India?
🅰️ Air Act
✅ 🅱️ Environment Protection Act, 1986
🅲️ Water Act
🅳️ Noise Pollution Rules

Q2. Biomedical waste should be handled as per which rule?
🅰️ Water Act
🅱️ Forest Act
✅ 🅲️ BMW Rules, 2016
🅳️ Wildlife Act

Q3. Which act regulates factory sanitation and safety?
🅰️ Public Health Act
✅ 🅱️ Factories Act, 1948
🅲️ Solid Waste Rules
🅳️ IPC Act

Q4. What does the Noise Pollution Rule declare around hospitals and schools?
🅰️ Playgrounds
✅ 🅱️ Silence Zones
🅲️ Restricted Zones
🅳️ Factory Zones

Q5. CPCB was created under which act?
🅰️ EPA 1986
✅ 🅱️ Water Act, 1974
🅲️ Solid Waste Rules
🅳️ Forest Act