Uttarakhand
50 Years of Chipko Movement
- 23 Apr 2024
- 1 min read
Why in News?
Recently, Chipko Movement which began in Uttarakhand, in early 1973, marks its 50th anniversary.
Key Points
- Chipko Movement was a non-violent agitation which originated in Uttar Pradesh’s Chamoli district (now Uttarakhand) in 1973.
- The name of the movement ‘chipko’ comes from the word ’embrace’, as the villagers hugged the trees and encircled them to prevent being hacked.
- It is best remembered for the collective mobilisation of women for the cause of preserving forests, which also brought about a change in attitude regarding their own status in society.
- Its biggest victory was making people aware of their rights to forests, and how grassroots activism can influence policy-making regarding ecology and shared natural resources.
- It led to a ban on commercial felling of trees above 30 degrees slope and above 1,000 msl (mean sea level) in 1981.
Major Environmental Movements in India
