An awareness programme on “save water and energy” was organised at the Department of Sociology, Nagaland University on November 6.
Lumami, November 7 (MExN): An awareness programme on “save water and energy” was organised at the Department of Sociology, Nagaland University, with a keynote lecture delivered by Dr Sandeep Gupta, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, on November 6, a release said.
The lecture was followed by a competitive student slogan contest designed to promote active environmental participation, stated a press release.
Delivering a critical sociological perspective on resource access, Dr Gupta underscored that essential elements like water and energy are far more than mere natural assets, stating that their distribution is deeply intertwined with social power, infrastructure quality and institutional frameworks, leading to sharp inequalities between rural and urban populations as well as affluent neighbourhoods and informal settlements.
He cited the acute water scarcity in certain cities, where institutional deficiencies force residents to rely on private groundwater extraction, a solution accessible only to those with sufficient financial means.
The lecture highlighted how consumption patterns reflect structural class standing rather than simple personal preference, noting that higher-income households consume disproportionately more energy through air conditioning, multi-device connectivity and extensive lighting.
Intersectional dynamics further complicate resource crises: in traditional patriarchal settings, the heavy labour of sourcing and managing scarce water falls disproportionately on women, who often travel long distances to fetch water.
Drawing a parallel to global geopolitics, Dr Gupta observed that developed Western nations historically generate far higher per-capita carbon emissions yet frequently shift the burden of conservation onto developing countries.
Examining disaster vulnerability and environmental justice, the presentation contrasted advanced mitigation measures such as Japan's seismic-resistant floating architectural technologies with the severe casualty rates seen during floods in countries like India where protective infrastructure is lacking, noting that wealthier populations generate ecological costs passed down to lower-class and marginalised communities who lack the financial means or infrastructure to shield themselves from environmental degradation.
In contrast to capitalist models that equate prosperity with perpetual resource exploitation, Dr Gupta pointed to indigenous traditions such as seasonal hunting bans in Nagaland during animal breeding periods as vital models of harmonious, need-based living, emphasising that genuine sustainability must be evaluated through an environmental justice framework and calling on sociology students to cultivate structural empathy.
Conservation efforts emphasised during the programme should be driven not merely by a desire to lower individual utility bills but by a commitment to intergenerational equity and a shared responsibility toward those living on the margins, he said.
The awareness programme was organised under the BRICS Sustainable Lifestyle Week initiative as part of the broader national events commemorating India's 2026 Chairship of BRICS — the international bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
The event was attended by Prof Athungo Ovung, Department of Sociology, faculty, officers, staff, research scholars and students. The winners of the slogan competition on the theme “Save Water and Energy” will be declared at a later date.
