Vayulex is an innovative online platform designed to enhance users’ understanding of the legal framework surrounding air pollution mitigation and air quality development. It operates on a two-pronged approach: first, by serving as a comprehensive repository of legal instruments, materials, and resources related to air quality, presented in a user-friendly manner; second, by enabling users to interact and collaborate on air pollution issues through a social networking feature. Vayulex fosters an engaged virtual community of regulators, legal experts, and environmental stakeholders.
Cleaner Air and Better Health (CABH) is a five-year (2021 to 2026) project supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It aims to strengthen air pollution mitigation and reduce exposure to air pollution in India by establishing evidence-based models for better air quality management. The project is being implemented by a consortium led by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water and includes Asar Social Impact Advisors, Environmental Design Solutions, Enviro Legal Defence Firm, and Vital Strategies.
Environmental Law Associates Network (ELAN) is an informal network of legal professionals from across India working in the field of environment and development law. It was created by ELDF to serve as a platform for sharing ideas, information and legal strategies around the country on different environment and development law issues. Under the CABH Project, ELDF has leveraged the ELAN network to facilitate legal knowledge and aid regulators in the field of air quality management. The members of ELAN will engage with regulators through this platform - "Vayulex" where members of ELAN CABH including regulators will be registered. The ELAN members can directly interact with the regulators and collaborate on various issues related to air quality management. This facility will open doors for collaboration and knowledge exchange fostering interdisciplinary dialogue between members. ELAN-CABH’s expansive reach in several States in India has the potential to impact the South Asian region by uniting diverse yet like-minded professionals in natural resource lawyering, strengthening and empowering stakeholders through dialogue and striving towards Cleaner Air and Better Health.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is the US government’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results across the world. USAID works to help lift lives, build communities, and advance democracy. Its work advances US national security and economic prosperity, demonstrates American generosity, and helps countries with their development journey. In India, USAID is collaborating with the country’s growing human and financial resources through partnerships that catalyse innovation and entrepreneurship to solve critical local and global development challenges.
Enviro-Legal Defence Firm (ELDF) is India’s first environmental law firm, and has dealt with multiple landmark environmental cases, including on air pollution that have shaped the legal discourse on air quality management across India. ELDF's mission is to mainstream environmental and development law, resolve natural resource conflicts, and strengthen environmental jurisprudence. The firm has a unique approach of bridging the gap between field-based conflicts and formal adjudication, while expanding the practice of law beyond traditional courts. ELDF leads the CABH Project consortium as the legal arm and is engaged in identifying regulatory reforms, and developing a comprehensive legal structure to support pollution control boards.
