An awareness programme on “Save Water and Energy” was organised by the Department of Sociology, Nagaland University, on November 6, featuring a keynote lecture by Dr Sandeep Gupta, Associate Professor in the department. The lecture was followed by a student slogan competition aimed at encouraging active participation in environmental conservation.
Offering a sociological perspective on access to natural resources, Dr Gupta emphasised that water and energy are more than essential natural assets, as their distribution is closely linked to social power, infrastructure and institutional frameworks. These factors, he said, contribute to inequalities between rural and urban populations, as well as between affluent neighbourhoods and informal settlements.
Citing water scarcity in several cities, Dr Gupta observed that institutional deficiencies often compel residents to depend on private groundwater extraction, a solution that remains beyond the reach of those without sufficient financial resources.
He explained that consumption patterns reflect structural class differences rather than merely individual preferences. Higher-income households, for instance, tend to consume disproportionately more energy through air conditioning, multiple electronic devices and extensive lighting.
He also highlighted the gender dimension of resource scarcity, noting that in traditional patriarchal settings, the responsibility for sourcing and managing scarce water falls disproportionately on women, who are often required to travel long distances to fetch it.
Drawing attention to global inequalities, Dr Gupta observed that developed Western nations have historically recorded much higher per-capita carbon emissions, while the responsibility for conservation is frequently shifted towards developing countries.
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On disaster vulnerability and environmental justice, he contrasted advanced mitigation measures, including Japan’s seismic-resistant floating architectural technologies, with the high casualties witnessed during floods in countries such as India, where protective infrastructure is often inadequate. He said the environmental costs generated by wealthier sections of society are frequently borne by lower-income and marginalised communities, which lack the financial resources and infrastructure to protect themselves from environmental degradation.
The lecture further highlighted how the conveniences enjoyed by privileged groups can conceal the transfer of environmental burdens to vulnerable communities, as well as the unpaid household labour involved in managing resource shortages.
In contrast to economic models that associate prosperity with continuous resource exploitation, Dr Gupta pointed to indigenous practices, including seasonal hunting restrictions in Nagaland during animal breeding periods, as examples of need-based living and harmony with nature.
Emphasising that sustainability must be assessed through the framework of environmental justice, he urged sociology students to develop structural empathy and recognise the unequal social consequences of environmental crises. He said conservation should not be driven merely by the objective of reducing individual utility bills, but by a commitment to intergenerational equity and shared responsibility towards marginalised communities.
The 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 grouping comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
The programme was attended by Prof Athungo Ovung of the Department of Sociology, faculty members, officers, staff, research scholars and students. The winners of the slogan competition on the theme “Save Water and Energy” will be announced at a later date.
