THE MYTH OF GENDER EQUALITY IN ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE: CHALLENGES FACED BY MEN IN INDIA

Abstract

The discussion surrounding gender equality in India has historically centered on the disadvantages and systemic exclusion that women have faced. Although these issues continue to be important, the growing complexity of governance systems necessitates a more comprehensive and inclusive perspective on equality. This article delves into the idea of "The Myth of Gender Equality in Environmental Governance" by investigating the frequently neglected challenges that men face within
India’s environmental legal and policy framework. It contends that achieving gender equality in governance cannot be realized through unilateral narratives that overlook the vulnerabilities, responsibilities, and institutional disadvantages that men encounter in specific contexts. Environmental governance in India involves the oversight of forests, land acquisition, climate change adaptation, disaster recovery, pollution management, and access to natural resources. In various sectors, men particularly those from rural, tribal, and economically marginalized communities bear unequal burdens, which include hazardous work conditions, displacement from their lands, health hazards associated with their occupations, and insufficient acknowledgment in welfare initiatives that are predominantly structured around gender biases. Male laborers in industries such as mining, sanitation, fisheries, agriculture, and waste management often face considerable environmental dangers with limited legal safeguards or social acknowledgment. The article further assesses whether existing environmental policies truly reflect the tenets of substantive equality or merely perpetuate selective justice practices. It emphasizes that genuine gender equality must consider all impacted groups instead of prioritizing one category over another. From the perspective of constitutional
principles, environmental justice theory, and policy analysis, the research advocates for governance model that harmonizes the empowerment of women with the environmental challenges faced by men. The paper concludes that inclusive environmental governance in India requires strategies that are gender-neutral, evidence-based, and socially responsive.