Chhattisgarh

• 30 Apr 2024

Chhattisgarh Activist to Receive Green Nobel

Why in News?

Chhattisgarh’s environmental activist and convener of Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan (CBA), Alok Shukla has been selected for prestigious international level award Goldman Environmental Prize 2024, also known as the Green Nobel.

Key Points

• He is selected for his struggles and initiatives to protect the environment including Hasdeo Arand, one of the largest dense forests in central India spanning up to 170,000 hectares, having 23 coal blocks into it. He will be felicitated in the United States.
• He successfully campaigned and mobilized the indigenous communities and those affected by coal mining to campaign against Adani mining to save 445,000 acres of biodiversity-rich forests from 21 planned coal mines in the tribal dominated state Chhattisgarh.
  • In 2009, the environment ministry notified Hasdeo Arand to be a “No-Go” zone for mining due to its rich forest cover but opened it again for mining. The CBA continuously fought to make Hasdeo Arand mining free.

Hasdeo Arand Forest

• Hasdeo Arand, a sprawling forest in the northern part of Chhattisgarh is known for its biodiversity and its coal deposits.
• The forest falls under Korba, Sujapur and Surguja districts with significant tribal population.
• The Hasdeo river, a tributary of Mahanadi, flows through it.
• Hasdeo Arand is the largest un-fragmented forest in Central India consisting of pristine Sal (Shorea robusta) and teak forests.
• It is a noted migratory corridor and has a significant presence of elephants.

Green Nobel Prize

• The Goldman Environmental Prize (also known as Green Nobel Prize) recognizes individuals for sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment, often at great personal risk.
• It has been awarded annually by the Goldman Environmental Foundation since 1990.
• It honours people from the world’s six continental regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands & Island Nations, North America, and South & Central America.
• The Goldman Prize views “grassroots” leaders as those involved in local efforts, where positive change is created through community or citizen participation in the issues that affect them.
• Goldman Prize recipients are usually people from isolated villages or inner cities who choose to take great personal risks to safeguard the environment.
• The winners are announced on Earth Day which is observed on 22^nd April every year.

Muria Tribe

Why in News?

Muria Tribe, living in the border areas between Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Chhattisgarh are possessing voter cards of both the States, one is to exercise their franchise and the other is for references and proof of their nativity.

Key Points

• The settlement is in India's Red Corridor on the Andhra Pradesh-Chhattisgarh border, affected by Naxalism. It is an oasis within a reserved forest, protected by strict laws against settlement and deforestation.
• The Muria settlements are home to around 6,600 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in AP. The native tribes refer to the Murias here as 'Gutti Koyas'.
  • This Tribe was displaced during the conflict between Maoists and Salwa Judum.
• The Muria are an indigenous Adivasi, scheduled tribe Dravidian community of the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. They are part of the Gondi people.

Salwa Judum

• It is a group of tribal persons mobilized for resistance against outlawed armed naxalites.The group was reportedly backed by government machinery in Chhattisgarh.
• In 2011, Supreme Court of India ruled against arming civilians in this manner banned Salwa-Judum and directed Chhattisgarh government to disband any militia force founded to combat Maoist guerrillas.

Internally Displaced People (IDPs)

• IDPs are persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or natural or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally recognised border.