Environmental Issues and Movement in India
– Dr. Amit Kumar
Environment as issue as become an important aspect nowadays. The intervention of human being has played a key role in facing environmental issue. There are various scholars who have specific context in regard to the issue of environment. Some environmentalist believes that the environmental issues have develop since the colonial rule. This movement has taken a turn as the imperial powers just for the sake of their material gains exploited the natural resources. This was the modal that was adopted after independence. Several scholars believe that Indian environmental movement does not have a perfect base or standpoint. In India basically the environmental movement is related to Gandhian optimistic Vision of Swaraj. The environmental movement has a Gandhian facet as it is differing from the movement of the west. The focus of these movements are related to environmental issues the main object of development like dam, hydroelectric power project, mining and mechanised fishing has become the ground of criticism as to fulfill all these specific issues there was displacement of people from their habitat and their source of livelihood dismantled.
The approach towards movements to the last four decades have stepped into non-violence stapes. These movements have taken a new mould these environmental movement has emerged from Himalaya region of Utter Pradesh to tropical forest of Kerala, and from Gujarat to Tripura. The whole mapping and coverage of India through this movement have been seen. Such movements have been the response to dislocating peoples which affects their basic human rights and the ecological stability of life support system. The environmental movement now is a model of development which replaces the savior ecological instability. Such movements have covered the global context. Environmental movement is the sole expression of the ambit of various realms of socio-politico-economico-environo leading to ecological efficiency and stability of development. Ecological destruction and economic deprivation have been the core them of these movements. The movements are describe in a following manner.
Bishnoi Movement :-
Rajasthan is known for it’s environmental awareness the founder of bishnoi movement was Jambho Ji he gave 29 norms to his disciples. From this 29 norms which was 20 and 9 this community came to be known as bishnoi. Majority of them had environmental concerns and prohibited cutting of trees and animal slaughtering. Due to the climatic circumstances in Rajasthan the khejarli trees were grown. It not only met the requirement of animal fodder but it also was eaten by man as beans. Going ahead the effect of Jambho Ji had a great effect on the people. In 1730 A.D. the Prince of Jodhpur Abhay Singh in Rajasthan Planed to make a Palace. So in the making of a palace woods were required and he was told that there is scarcities of trees in Rajasthan. And he was even told that the place where he can get thick wood is of bishnoi Khejarli village.
By the odder of the king Abhay Singh people were sent with axe to the village. They went to the cut down the thick trees. As the same time a lady Amrita Devi was rinsing buttermilk. While the trees were cut down she heard a voice of cutting trees. She was shocked to listen to the strange voice. She protested against it to secure religion, to secure the trees, she felt even if life is on stake that is also less. She hugged with tree and give her sacrifice her three daughter with her and one by one the hugged with the trees. And even here daughter also sacrifices. This news got spread everywhere and 363 bishnoi women sacrifices for this noble cause. When environmentalist Richard Verbe Becker come to India and got to know about this story of Amrita Devi he was delighted. He spread this news to the whole world environmental organization. And he even said that India has great culture. He even stress the world is in danger. This movement came to be known as Chipko movement and this movement took the lines of the inspirations as Chipko movment.
Chipko Movement :-
Chipko means to stick or to hug. The main motive being to protect the trees chipko movement took place in the early 1970’s with people rising against the felling of trees for commercial reasons. This movement saw the involvement of people from every section of the society and every age group. Sunderlal Bahuguna was key instrumental figure along with Chandi Prasad Bhatt. The activist of this movement played a key role in maintaining the safety of trees that led to protection and safeguarding of environment. The region of Uttarakhand was known for it is ample resources which was utilised in maintaining the ‘ecological balance’.
Chipko movement has brought the movement into a proper momentum that led to environment upliftment and awareness among people. Chipko movement was at the helm when every environmentalist not only throughout India but whole world appreciated this cause and step taken up by the villagers as well as environmentalist. Chipko movement set an example and a standard was set out that laid out the foundation for the future generation. Chipko movement as a movement become the base of “ecological balance and stability” .
Silent Valley Movement :-
The Silent Valley was at the periphery of the least developed section of the state of kerala. There were very few species of flora and fauna surviving in this region. Kerala government was planning a dam for the Kuntipuzha River so as to generate hydroelectricity. The silent valley project saw the debacle of a strong environment dispute in India. This movement wanted to meet the economic needs of the people of this region. This was least developed. The energy generated dam meant rural development. There were various dilemmas regarding the advent of a dam. As in 1978, the kerala sastra sahitya parishad (KSSP). Which is a movement aimed at improving scientific temper among common people organised a signature campaign to step the dam from being built.
This dam could have meant with severe consequences to the rural zone as these could have been inflow of financial benefit to Trivandrum. Silent valley movement was a mass mobilised movement. The geographical belt of this valley occupies only 8,950 hectors as it is surrounded by Nilgiri, Nilambur and Attappaddi forest which is about 40,000 hectares of pristine forests. This movement was a controversial movement during the 1970’s. this movement wanted to improve the economical and ecological affluence of this region.
Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA)
Narmada Bachao Andolan is regarded as one of the toughest battles against the construction of a dam which was validated against the system of dams called the “SARDAR SAROVAR PROJECT” to be constructed on River Narmada. The main motto of this dam was t harness the waters of River Narmada and its tributaries. The plan behind this dam was to provide water and generate electricity. This very movement was initiated and beaconed by “Medha Patekar” a key socio environmentalist who led the upsurge of maintaining and preserving the environmental concerns of the common masses as well as the rehabilitating and relocating the people who were and were due to be affected by the project. The rehabilitation scheme of the government was being given a bang.
The NBA become a beacon of environmental movement in India. Many people have opined on lowering the height of the dam. But now the height of dam has been increased upto 138.68 metres on 15 September 2019. the narmada Valley is one of the world largest multipurpose project “narmada river development project” which involves the construction of many dam. Geographically Narmada basin is located between the vindhya and Satpura ranges in the Valley. Narmada Valley is residing to 21 million people in the valley. The world Bank took initiatives in funding the project. Even it gave guidelines for resettlement and rehabilitation. though Indian government could not meet upto the resettlement and rehabilitation issues. This movement become a symbol of indian development. Save the narmada movement began in 1980 it was a struggle for just resettlement and rehabilitation of people being displaced bay the sardar sarovar dam. The main logo being to maintain environmental integrity and natural ecosystem of the entire valley. Later on the world bank took tis footback as it withdraw the funding to be done for the project. It was a moral victory of the movement.
Mithiny Villege Movement :-
Sonbhadr is village which is coal reserve national thermal power project approved its plan to go for a project in the village mithiny villagers were forced for relocating and resettlement as they were handed a small cash compensation they were even assured of a livelihood options as well .though these promises were not upto the mark. Even the village people moved to the Allahabad high court to achieve a stay order against further construction and till the fulfillment of resettlement is assured. NTPC just for the stake of its own profit ventured pressure on the villagers. This led to the verbal and physical torture done against the villagers. this movement led to severe national and international important cethroughout. Even the environmentalist and activist criticized the world bank, a major funding agency of NTPC by claiming that kit had violated its own guidelines. These activities even demanded a internal enquiry to be governed under the panel rules.
National fishworker forum
India is known for its vividity with the population of 7 million fisher people In the world. India area covers 6,000 km coast line and in numerable rivers, lakes, pond and reservoirs 1/3 of them depends on marine fishing and remaining 2/3 on fishing in a variety of in land water bodies. The fishing economy has undergone it tremendous change bringing technological polarisation. Fishing as a industry open with new avenues where a person having capital could enter into the market. The government ignored the skills and capabilities of a large number of fishing people. In place of it the government initiatives and promoted its own technologies like bottom, trawling and even its stated it large scale harvesting of fish. The fishing industry made profits from outside export. These fishermen were of low caste but they enjoyed autonomy and sense of dignity and privilege in the past. Slowly and gradually the fish marine resource base decline down. The fishing industry become polarised between the modern sector which ensured considerable profit in the longer run. There was a violent clash between the fish worker and mechanised trawlers under issue of sharing fishing grounds. The majumdar committee proposed the marine fishing regulation bill. The fish workers reunited them self at local levels and state levels. The tread union was formed which came together to formed national fish worker forum in 1979. It an all India organisation.
Beej Bachao Andolan (BBA) :-
This movement was instigated in the periphery of the top of the hills in Uttaranchal. Where a place called Jardhargaon is located. Over here the farmers were pressing hard to save the great variety of indigenous seeds. Traditional variety of seeds was losing its hype. as various translational companies were entering to the market. With the possible imposition of monoculture. they were into modified or laboratory tested seeds which meant scientific advancement. Beej bachao andolan promoted traditional agricultural practices. It was engaged in protecton of natural resources and also safeguard of skills of local communities recognised as a comprehensive development process. Beej bachao andolan was a gracious movement that led to common consensus among people. The transnational companies claimed that their seeds had both quality and quantity yields and are used in through the local growing conditions .
Conclusion :-
These movements meant a mode of social change from mechanized to traditional practice. the principal achievements of the environmental movement in India had a great impact on the socio economic structure that benefitted public interest in the longer run. new rules and regulations’ were regulated to protect the environment and the interest of the marginalized workers tribals and peasants. all these movements have led to immense purification of society as well as ensuring social parity. these movements have had great impact on the national as well as international run. Environmental importance is of utmost importance. does environmental concern refer to the social chariot of equality liberty and justice. the modalities of this 21st century does mark a real change. therefore on a whole we can conclude by saying that environment is the gift of god imparted to us. the policy management should be restored for the sake of humanity for the coming of future generations. preservation of natural resources is important for negotiating the models of development.
References
Gadgil, M. and R. Guha (1992). This Fissured Land : An Ecological History Of India. Delhi Oxford University Press.
Rangarajan, M (2001). India’s Wildlife History : an Introduction. New Delhi: Permanent Black. Aa
Priyam, M, Krishna Menon and Madhulika Banerjee (2009). Human Right, Gender and the Environment. Delhi: Pearson.
Gandhi, M.K. (1909). Hind Swaraj. Ahmedabad: Navjivan Press.
Krishna, S. (1996). Environmental Politics: People’s Lives and Development Choices. New Delhi: Sage Publication.
