“…The contractors’ men who were travelling to Reni from Joshimath stopped the bus shortly before Reni. Skirting the…………..

Question 21:“…The contractors’ men who were travelling to Reni from Joshimath stopped the bus shortly
before Reni. Skirting the village, they made for the forest. A small girl who spied the workers with their implements rushed to Gaura Devi, the head of the village Mahila Mandal (Women’s Club). Gaura Devi quickly mobilised the other housewives and went to the forest. Pleading with the labourers not to start felling operations, the women initially met with abuse and threats. When
the women refused to budge, the men were eventually forced to retire.” How are environmental movements also about economics and identity issues? Elaborate.

The correct answer is – The above excerpt is from the Chipko movement, which was a forest conservation movement that emerged in Uttarakhand, India, in the 1970s. The movement was initiated by local communities, especially women, who were concerned about the depletion of forests due to commercial logging activities. They used non-violent methods, including hugging trees to prevent them from being cut down, to resist the logging activities.

The Chipko movement was not just about environmental conservation, but also about economics and identity issues. The commercial logging activities were causing environmental damage, but they were also impacting the livelihoods of local communities who depended on the forests for their sustenance. The logging activities were also seen as a threat to the cultural and spiritual identity of the communities, who saw the forests as sacred spaces.

The women who led the movement were not just concerned about the environmental and economic aspects of the issue, but also about their own identity as women and their role in society. Women in the local communities were traditionally responsible for collecting firewood and fodder from the forests, and the logging activities were disrupting their daily lives and threatening their status in the community. By participating in the movement, the women were challenging traditional gender roles and asserting their right to be heard.

Therefore, environmental movements like the Chipko movement are not just about preserving nature, but also about addressing economic and identity issues that are intertwined with environmental concerns. The movement highlighted the importance of involving local communities, especially women, in environmental conservation efforts and recognising their knowledge and perspectives.