Nirmala Sawant (born 2 November 1946) is an Indian politician and environmental activist from the state of Goa. A member of the Indian National Congress, she served as a Member of the Goa Legislative Assembly representing the Cumbarjua constituency from 1999 to 2002 and held the portfolio of Minister of Forests during that term. Sawant has been prominently involved in conservation efforts, particularly concerning the Mhadei River, and has contributed to educational initiatives in the region.
Early life and education
Nirmala Sawant was born in Marcel, then part of Portuguese Goa, on 2 November 1946. She earned a Master of Arts in Economics, followed by a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.). She is married to Prabhakar Sawant.
Political career
Sawant was elected to the Goa Legislative Assembly from the Cumbarjua constituency in the 1999 state elections, succeeding Krishna Kuttikar and later being succeeded by Pandurang Madkaikar. During her tenure she served as Minister of Forests from 8 June 1999 to 24 November 1999. In 2012, she raised concerns about the inclusion of approximately 1,500 alleged bogus voters in the Cumbarjua electoral roll, highlighting potential implications for electoral integrity.
Environmental activism
Sawant is a founding member and convenor of the Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan (MBA), a movement dedicated to protecting the Mhadei River from diversion and ecological degradation. She has repeatedly urged the Goa government to take decisive action to safeguard the river’s water resources and, in January 2025, called for an exclusive hearing date on the Mhadei water dispute before the Supreme Court of India.
Other work
She has served on the editorial board responsible for developing textbooks used to teach the Konkani language in Goan high schools.
Personal life
During the COVID‑19 pandemic, Sawant pursued a diploma in Sanskrit, noting that the period of reduced public activity allowed her to study the language.
References
- Goa Legislative Assembly biography (PDF) – official member profile.
- “1500 bogus voters could change the scene in Cumbharjua – Nirmala Sawant,” Herald Goa, 31 January 2012.
- “Vote for the candidate who will work to save Mhadei, raise Mhadei issue in Parliament,” Herald Goa, 4 May 2024.
- “Nirmala urges govt to request for exclusive date on Mhadei issue,” Herald Goa, 9 January 2025.
- “Ex‑MLA Nirmala is now Sanskrit diploma holder,” Prudent Media, 29 March 2024.