Norma Alvares is an Indian lawyer, social worker and environmental activist.
[1][2] Born in a Goan family,[citation needed] Norma graduated in law from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai and entered environmental activism.
[2] Under the aegis of the environmental action group Goa Foundation that was started by Alvares' husband, Claude, she initiated a public interest litigation (PIL) in 1987 to save the sand dunes of Goa, the first ever PIL filed in the state.
[5] 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.
[citation needed] Alvares was honored by the Government of India, in 2002, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri.