Question

Explain the Chipko Movement.

Answer 1

Hint: Chipko Movement is an environmental conservation movement by the villagers in India for the protection and conservation of trees and forests from being destroyed.

Complete answer:
The forests of India are the important resource for the livelihood of rural peoples throughout the country. These forests have been increasingly fallen down and exploited for commerce and industry. In the 1970s, some people fought against the destruction of forests throughout India and came to be known as the Chipko Movement. The name of the movement comes from the word ‘embrace’, as the villagers hugged the trees, and prevented the authorities from cutting them. The main event of Chipko Movement happened on March 26, 1974 in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand.
Result of Chipko Movement
- Movement banned the cutting of trees for 15 years in the forests of Uttar Pradesh in 1980.
- By 1981, over a million of trees had been planted and protected because of the movement.
- New methods of forest farming have been developed for the conservation of forest.
- The movement is still working today for the protection of trees by this same non- violence method.
Some important leaders of the Chipko Movement were Sundarlal Bahuguna, Chandi Prasad Bhatt, Amrita Devi, and Sudeshna Devi. Chandi Prasad Bhatt is one among the leaders of Chipko Movement who focuses on the protection of the Himalayan Mountains from deforestation. He also organized rallies to protect the forest from mass destruction.

Note: Another important leader was Sundarlal Bahuguna who contributed globally through awareness raising measures concerning deforestation. He also worked to stop the construction of the Tehri Dam.