People are organized into village forest committees (VFCS) at the village(s) level with executive committee (EC) elected by the VFC members. The EC takes the role of the regulator in monitoring the access to forests and also in regulating utilization of forester’s resources. Currently 27 Indian states have adopted JFM and over 63,000 FPCs are managing around 14 million hectare of forestlands.

Suggestions for Sustained Environmental Conservation • Population control • Rain water harvesting • Conservation of sea and its resources • Controlling soil erosion • Controlling the emission of industrial pollutants • Using non chemical and hand made products. • Using bio-degradable and environment friendly articles • Conservation of natural forests and development of new forests • Cutting only dry trees • Energy saving • Banning the production of products which create pollution like plastic Bags • Using natural and bio fertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers. • Recycling the waste • Using non conventional energy source like Solar energy Hydro-power ,wind energy ,Energy from sea waves , Bio-gas etc, • Including the topics on environmental awareness and nature

protection from the primary education

Contribution of SHGs for the development of Society

CONCLUSION

The self-help groups activities are not only revolving around savings and credits but also integrating the socio economical & health issues into the various agendas of the groups. The role played by SHGs in conservation and preservation of environment contribute to development of the society.

REFERENCES

1. R Jayanthi , ‘A Study On the working of Self Help Groups with special reference to Avinashi block village Panchayaths in Coimbatore Dist’ 2004 M.Phil thesis submitted to Madurai Kamaraj University. 2. ‘Magalir Membattu Muttram’ Monthly magazine of Tamilnadu Women Development Corporation Ltd , 2004 December . 3. Prasanth Pandey, Neetu Kaushik, Environment, Population and Economic Development, Yojana (volume 48), pg 41-43. (June 2004). 4. J.Bhakyalakshmi, Thittam (volume 35), pg 22-25. August 2004. 5. www.idb.org/vi/geo/asia.htm 6. www.spw.org 7. http//gramalaya.org 8. www.indianagos.com/cosp.htm. 9. mstncdw@sathyam.net.in 10. www.aid.org.vt.edu/Deepam_shg/proposal.html.