Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Political Science

Chapter

Politics in India Since Independence: Rise of Popular Movements

Question:

Which of these statements is/are incorrect about the Chipko Movement?

Options:

The Chipko Movement was an environmental movement to prevent the cutting down of trees

The Chipko Movement raised questions of ecological and economic exploitations

The Chipko Movement was a movement against social discrimination and violence against untouchable groups

The Chipko Movement demanded that local communities should have control over their natural resources

Correct Answer:

The Chipko Movement was a movement against social discrimination and violence against untouchable groups

Explanation:

The movement began in two or three villages of Uttarakhand when the forest department refused permission to the villagers to fell ash trees for making agricultural tools. However, the forest department allotted the same patch of land to a sports manufacturer for commercial use. This enraged the villagers and they protested against the move of the government. The struggle soon spread across many parts of the Uttarakhand region. Larger issues of ecological and economic exploitation of the region were raised. The villagers demanded that no forest-exploiting contracts should be given to outsiders and local communities should have effective control over natural resources like land, water and forests. They wanted the government to provide low cost materials to small industries and ensure development of the region without disturbing the ecological balance. The movement took up economic issues of landless forest workers and asked for guarantees of minimum wage. Women’s active participation in the Chipko agitation was a very novel aspect of the movement. The forest contractors of the region usually doubled up as suppliers of alcohol to men. Women held sustained agitations against the habit of alcoholism and broadened the agenda of the movement to cover other social issues.