Question

Amrita Devi Bishnoi Wildlife Protection Award is for the individuals or communities from rural areas that have shown extraordinary courage in
A. Reducing environmental pollution
B. Reducing global warming
C. Protecting wildlife
D. Reforestation in a deforested area

Answer 1

Amrita Devi Bishnoi is remembered for protection of khejri trees and “Amrita Devi Bishnoi Award” is given in remembrance of the contribution of Amrita Devi to those individuals who show immense courage in protecting flora and fauna.

Complete step by step answer: Bishnoi communities are nature lovers and first environmentalists of India. There is a famous story about Amrita Devi Bishnoi as she gave her life to protect the trees from cutting down. Her head was severed. Her daughters also gave their lives for the protection of trees. Seeing these, people from neighbouring villages also clung to the trees and they were also severed. Around 300 people were killed for protecting trees by the kingsmen as a matter of disobedience. This act inspired “Chipko Andolan” by Sunder Lal and the government of India started ‘Amrita Devi Bishnoi Smrithi Paryavaran award’ for those contributing to environmental conservation. Bishnoi community are the first environmentalists that follow the following guidelines:
i. They provide shelter to abandoned animals. The principle is ‘Amar Rakhave that’
ii. They use cow dung for fuel and not green trees.
iii. They practice rainwater harvesting and build storage tanks to collect and store rainwater.
iv. In addition to the flora, they also conserve fauna such as deers, blackbuck, peacock, blue bull, etc.
v. They collect dead wood and do not cut trees
Hence, the correct answer is option C.

Note: Amrita Devi Bishnoi Award is given to individuals or communities who have given a significant contribution in protecting wildlife. It is recognised as having shown exemplary courage and valour or having done exemplary work for the protection of wildlife in the country. It was started in the year 2001.