Integrated Approaches to Sustainable Wetland Ecosystem Management: Lessons from Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in Kerala
Author : Ancy V. P., Hareesh N. Ramanathan, Simmy Kurian, & Sreejith S.
Co-publisher: Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), in association with Macmillan Education India Private Limited
Publication Year : 2026
Price : 675
About the Book
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, India's flagship cleanliness campaign, plays a crucial role in improving environmental and public health standards. With a focus on Kerala's wetlands, this study examines the growing challenges of plastic pollution, aquatic weed infestation, and ecological degradation that threaten both biodiversity and local livelihoods. Through a multi-layered research approach, the book explores community perceptions, waste management practices, and the effectiveness of Swachh Bharat initiatives. It highlights key issues such as low environmental awareness, high population density, tourism pressures, and gaps in implementation and enforcement. By identifying critical barriers and policy gaps, the study offers valuable insights into sustainable wetland management and emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to address persistent environmental challenges.
About the Authors
Dr Ancy V. P. has been serving as an Associate Professor in the School of Industrial Fisheries at Cochin University of Science & Technology since 2019. She brings 28 years of distinguished teaching experience and is an active researcher in Industrial Economics, Fisheries Economics, Sustainable Development Challenges, Sustainable Waste Management, Human Resource Management, and Sustainable Coastal Management. She has successfully completed numerous research projects and has published books and articles in a variety of reputed journals. Dr. Ancy has presented her research at multiple national and international conferences and seminars and serves as an expert member on various academic and research boards and selection committees. Additionally, she has designed and developed a MOOC course on the Economics of Fisheries.
Dr. Hareesh N. Ramanathan is a seasoned academic and research professional with extensive expertise in academic leadership, fostering international relations, and institution building. He is widely recognized for creating vibrant work environments and fostering a culture of collaboration and camaraderie. His global academic engagement includes the prestigious European Union ERASMUS+ fellowship for international teaching, underscoring his commitment to fostering cross-border knowledge exchange. An IBM-certified data analyst, Dr. Ramanathan has made significant contributions to the research community through analytical consultancies and impactful publications. Renowned as a distinguished trainer and educator in analytics and research methodologies, he has conducted numerous influential talks and workshops both within India and internationally, enriching the research ecosystem. Dr. Ramanathan is actively involved in sustainability-focused initiatives through strategic collaborations.
Prof. Dr. Simmy Kurian, is a management professional who specializes in HR & Systems at JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), Kochi holds a doctoral degree in Management and dual post-graduate degrees in Management and and Computer Application. With over around 18 years of experience in teaching, Administration and Industry and was awarded the prestigious ERASMUS + fellowship for international teaching mobility program in Croatia. She is a champion for cross-cultural communication. She has worked on multiple funding projects in areas like ICTs for diverse learners, including contributed to several funded projects from ICSSR and DSIR.
Dr. Sreejith S. is working as an Associate Professor of Management at the School of Legal Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology. He is also a research guide of the Faculty of Social Science at CUSAT. Sreejith is also a FLAIR certified faculty as well as acted as coordinator and resource person for various workshops and FDPs. His areas of interest are Informatics. He has published books as well as research papers and presented research papers at National and International conferences. He is also serving as an expert member for various academic boards and selection committees of a few institutions in Kerala. He is also acting as Principal Investigator and Project Director for a couple of funded research project.
| Contents | |
|---|---|
| List of Tables | |
| List of Figures | |
| Acronyms/Abbreviations | |
| Foreword | |
| Preface | |
| Acknowledgements | |
| Introduction | |
| Chapter 1 | |
| 1. Introduction | |
| 1.1 Overview | |
| 1.1.1 Water Body Contamination | |
| 1.1.2 Plastic Waste Generation | |
| 1.1.3 Waterweeds | |
| 1.1.4 The Extent of Plastic Pollution and Waterweed Infestation in Kerala | |
| 1.1.5 Vembanad-Kol Wetland | |
| 1.1.6 Context of the Scheme | |
| 1.1.7 Research Problem | |
| 1.1.8 Research Objectives | |
| 1.1.9 Research Questions | |
| 1.1.10 Chapterisation | |
| Chapter 2 | |
| 2. Methods | |
| 2.1 Research Design | |
| 2.2 Population and Sampling | |
| 2.3 Ranking Framework | |
| 2.3.1 Indicators | |
| 2.3.2 Indicators to Canons | |
| 2.4 Survey Instruments | |
| 2.4.1 Refining the Survey Instruments | |
| 2.5 Data Collection | |
| 2.6 Data Analysis | |
| 2.7 Limitations | |
| Chapter 3 | |
| 3. Sample Respondents and Other Stakeholders | |
| 3.1 Members in the Family | |
| 3.2 Income | |
| 3.3 Education | |
| 3.4 Conclusion | |
| Chapter 4 | |
| 4. Scheme/Programme Details | |
| 4.1 Background and Context | |
| 4.1.1 Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: Objectives and Strategies | |
| 4.2 Current Status of Implementation of Scheme | |
| 4.3 General, Social Groups and Economic Group Beneficiaries | |
| 4.4 Fund Allocations and Utilization | |
| 4.4.1 Financial Allocations and Utilization | |
| 4.4.2 Targets and Achievements | |
| 4.4.3 Challenges in Execution | |
| 4.4.4 Response and Strategic Adjustments | |
| 4.4.5 Recent Progress and Future Directions | |
| 4.5 Management of Waterweeds in India | |
| 4.6 Conclusion | |
| Chapter 5 | |
| 5. Results | |
| 5.1 Results of the Focus Group | |
| 5.1.1 Discussion on Agenda 1: Confirming the Indicators and Refining the Questionnaires | |
| 5.1.2 Agenda 2: Discussion on Identifying the Causes of Generation and Existing Problems in Waste Management | |
| 5.1.3 Theme 1: Issues | |
| 5.1.4 Theme 2: Barriers to Waste Management | |
| 5.1.5 Theme 3: Actions and Policies | |
| 5.1.6 Theme 4: Areas Unaddressed by Existing Policies | |
| 5.2 Results of the Focus Group | |
| 5.2.1 Evaluation of the Indicators | |
| 5.2.2 Indicator Scores for LSGS | |
| 5.2.3 Indicator Scores to Canon Scores | |
| 5.2.4 Canon Scores for LSGS | |
| 5.2.5 District Wise Canon Scores | |
| 5.2.6 Effectiveness in Action | |
| 5.2.7 Pollution in Public Places and Waterbodies | |
| 5.2.8 Best Practices | |
| 5.2.9 Issues, Gaps in Scheme Design, Limitations, and Challenges for Scheme Implementation | |
| Chapter 6 | |
| 6. Recommendations | |
| 6.1 Recommendations for Objective 1 | |
| 6.1.1 Short-term Recommendations | |
| 6.1.2 Mid-term Recommendations | |
| 6.1.3 Long-term Recommendations | |
| 6.2 Recommendations for Objective 2 | |
| 6.2.1 Short-term Recommendations | |
| 6.2.2 Mid-term Recommendations | |
| 6.2.3 Long-term Recommendations | |
| 6.3 Recommendations for Objective 3 & 4 | |
| 6.3.1 Short-term Recommendations | |
| 6.3.2 Mid-term Recommendations | |
| 6.3.3 Long-term Recommendations | |
| 6.4 Recommendations for Objective 5 | |
| 6.4.1 Short-term Recommendations | |
| 6.4.2 Mid-term Recommendations | |
| 6.4.3 Long-term Recommendations | |
| 6.5 Recommendations for Objective 6 | |
| 6.5.1 Short-term Recommendations | |
| 6.5.2 Mid-term Recommendations | |
| 6.5.3 Long-term Recommendations | |
| Conclusion | |
| References | |
| Notes on the Contributors | |
