Ecological movements do not question which of the following?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 4

The correct answer is Option (4) → Forest dwellers right to forest

Option (1) Exploitation of depleting natural resources — Questioned by ecological movements (Incorrect). These movements grew out of concern about the unchecked use of natural resources and the ever greater exploitation of resources that are already depleted.

Option (2) Impact of industrial pollution — Questioned by ecological movements (Incorrect). Industrial pollution harms the air, water and land that people depend on, and the impact of industrial pollution is one of the issues these movements take up.

Option (3) The model of development — Questioned by ecological movements (Incorrect). The model of development is critiqued for creating new needs that demand more exploitation, and for assuming that all sections of people will benefit, when big dams and industries displace people from their homes and livelihoods.

Option (4) Forest dwellers right to forest — Not questioned by ecological movements (Correct). Ecological movements defend this right; they do not question it. In the Chipko Movement, villagers hugged the trees to stop government contractors from felling them, because they relied on the forest for firewood, fodder and other daily necessities.

NCERT (2025-26): “8.4 Ecological Movements … For much of the modern period the greatest emphasis has been laid on development. Over the decades there has been a great deal of concern about the unchecked use of natural resources and a model of development that creates new needs that further demands greater exploitation of the already depleted natural resources. This model of development has also been critiqued for assuming that all sections of people will be beneficiaries of development. Thus big dams displace people from their homes and sources of livelihood. Industries displace agriculturalists from their homes and livelihood. The impact of industrial pollution is yet another story.…”

“…According to Ramachandra Guha in his book, Unquiet Woods, villagers rallied together to save the oak and rhododendron forests near their villages. When government forest contractors came to cut down the trees, villagers, including large number of women, stepped forward to hug the trees to prevent their being felled. At stake was the question of villagers’ subsistence. All of them relied on the forest to get firewood, fodder and other daily necessities.…”