Awaaz Foundation
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| Formation | 2006 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-governmental organisation |
| Legal status | Charitable Trust |
| Headquarters | Mumbai |
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Region served
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India |
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President of Foundation
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Sumaira Abdulali |
| Website | www |
Awaaz Foundation is a charitable trust and non-governmental organisation in Mumbai, India, which builds awareness, carries out advocacy, and is involved in educational projects to protect the environment and prevent environmental pollution. It has impacted many important decisions by the government and influenced policy making in important environmental matters in India. The beneficiaries of the Foundation are the citizens of India at large.
Awaaz Foundation was founded on 21 February 2006 by Sumaira Abdulali, a well-known environmentalist, who has exposed many scandals of environmental villainy in India at personal risk. The Foundation has filed several public interest litigations, including demands for strict implementation of noise-pollution laws, better functioning of Mumbai’s Tree Authority, reducing noise pollution, banning sale of tobacco to minors, efforts to counter politically sponsored sand mining mafia and notification of the biodiverse Sawantwadi-Dodamarg wildlife corridor as an ecologically sensitive area.
Noise pollution is a serious health hazard and can cause annoyance and aggression, hypertension, high stress levels, Tinnitus, hearing loss, sleep disturbances, heart disease, mental illness and other serious effects on health. Like smoking, noise pollution affects active and passive recipients when noise levels cross certain safe boundaries. Anti-Social behaviour such as public use of firecrackers and Loudspeakers is a highly sensitive social issue in India. Among the major forms of pollution in India is noise pollution. There is no parallel in the world to the noise pollution generated during festivals and religious celebrations in India. For Indians, making noise is a sign of happiness. For politicians the ability to make a big noise, by using huge loudspeakers at any opportunity, is a sign of strength. Festivals in India have become political battlegrounds as politicians try to score brownie points over one another by attempting to host the noisiest festival. The use of loudspeakers, permitted by the courts on certain occasions, often exceeds the permissible decibel limit, causing a great deal of stress and anxiety to the neighbourhoods.
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