Norma Alvares

Norma Alvares is an Indian lawyer, social worker and environmental activist.

Early life

Born in a Goan family, Norma graduated in law from St. Xavier's [College, Mumbai] and entered environmental activism.

Under the aegis of the environmental action group Goa Foundation that was started by Alvares' husband, Claude, she initiated a public interest litigation in 1987 to save the sand dunes of Goa, the first ever PIL filed in the state. She has been involved in over 100 PILs and has served as an amicus curiae. Her efforts are reported in winning a favourable court order for blocking a DuPont factory and in another one which restricted the mining activities in Goa. She is the president of the Goa branch of People for Animals and is the founder of Other India Book Store and Other India Press. Alvares was designated as Senior Advocate by the Bombay High Court in 2024.

She is married to Claude Alvares, a fellow activist. The couple currently live in Parra, Goa with their three children, Rahul, Samir and Milind.

Alvares was honored by the Government of India, in 2002, with the fourth highest Indian [honours system|Indian civilian award] of Padma Shri. The Government of Goa honoured her with the Yashadamini Puraskar in 2001.