In the 1970s, women from the Himalayan villages of Reni and Mandal hugged trees in the nearby forests to protect them from commercial loggers. The tree-huggers' movement was an assertion of local people's rights over their resources. It told the world that it is the poor who suffer the most when the environment degrades and, therefore, they have a vested interest in its management on a sustainable basis. Chipko enthused so many people that it inspired a nationwide environmental concern and influenced policy formulation to balance economic development with environment protection. As the Chipko movement marks its 50th anniversary, RAJU SAJWAN travels to the upper Alaknanda Valley in Uttarakhand to meet the women who led the crusade. Their words demand introspection.
'THE YOUNG NO LONGER CARE ABOUT THE FORESTS'
Ukha Devi
ON MARCH 26, 1974, when the contractor's men moved towards the forests of Reni, the women from the village, under the leadership of Gaura Devi, ran some 5 km and formed human-shields around the trees to protect them. I was one of them. People of my generation are either too old to visit the forest or have died, while the young generation prefers city life.
Earlier, women from the village would go to the forest in the morning, roam around through the day, playing or gathering vegetables and herbs, before returning. We continued visiting the forest till our health allowed us. Men from the village would also go to the forest, especially to collect keedajadi (a fungus used in traditional medicine) or vegetables.
Due to a disaster two years ago, the road to the forest was damaged, which has further hindered access. The number of youth in the village is very less, with most young women having gone with their husbands to nearby towns or plains. So, who will go to the forest now?
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 16, 2024-Ausgabe von Down To Earth.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 16, 2024-Ausgabe von Down To Earth.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
THE ALCHEMY OF EMOTIONS - SL'OTH
As with all personality traits, laziness is a combination of genes and environment
THE AL'CHEMY OF EMOTIONS - WRATH
Anger is an emotional programme, a part of natural selection that helps us bargain for better treatment
THE AL'CHEMY OF EMOTIONS - GLUTTONY
We have been captured by food and it is driving us to do something that is arguably not good for us
THE AL'CHEMY OF EMOTIONS - ENVY
Envy gives people a fundamental desire for a higher social rank
THE AL'CHEMY OF EMOTIONS-L'UST
Love, lust, attachments are basic brain circuits. They are too primitive a system and will never change
THE AL'CHEMY OF EMOTIONS - GREED
Evolutionary biology sees greed as a way to increase your chances of survival
THE AL'CHEMY OF EMOTIONS
I felt for the tormented whirlwinds Damned for their carnal sins Committed when they let their passions rule their reason
INVISIBLE THREAT
Significant presence of microplastics in Puducherry’s agricultural soil raises concerns for soil and crop health
Feeding off each other
VEGETARIAN MOVEMENTS IN SOUTH ASIA AND THE WEST GREW WITH MUTUAL SUPPORT AND VALIDATION
India's unhealthy patent amendments
Despite strong pleas, the Modi regime has changed the rules to impose a cost on those who challenge faulty patents