Norma Alvares Biography 
Norma Alvares is an environmental activist, lawyer and social worker based in Goa. She is a founding member of green NGO, Goa Foundation, and her husband Claude Alvares currently serves as the Director. Claude is also an environmental activist, lawyer and writer, whose efforts have helped the government in shutting down many illegal mines across Goa. This duo is one of the foremost reasons behind Goa in retaining its charm and a good measure of its environmental heritage. Norma Alvares is Padma Shri recipient, and she was honored by the Government of India, in 2002. Government of Goa honoured her with the Yashadamini Puraskar in 2001.
Norma Alvares was born in Goa. She graduated from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, followed by LLB. Since then she has been associated with social activities as an environmental activist and lawyer. She along with her environmentalist husband Claude Alvares have given some significant contributions towards this field, through their NGO, Goa Foundation founded in 1986. The couple lives in Parra, Goa with their three children. They are together for more than 4 decades. Under this foundation, the first major step she took was to initiate public interest litigation (PIL), in 1987, to save the sand dunes of Goa. It was the first ever PIL filed in the state of Goa. It resulted in blocking the activities of DuPont factory, through a court order.
She is also an animal lover, who currently serves as the president of the organization People for Animals. She has been associated with many environmental initiatives and is the founder of publishing houses like Other India Book Store and Other India Press. Goa Foundation, spearheaded by this power couple, has won famous victories and helped Goa to retain its natural charm. Their attempts forced the withdrawal of US-based multinational DuPont in 2012.
Published: February 19, 2019
Updated: February 19, 2019
