Question

Assertion: ‘Chipko Andolan’ was done by women of Reni village.
Reason: ‘Chipko Andolan’ was done to protect wildlife.
A. Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation for the Assertion.
B. Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is not the correct explanation for the Assertion.
C. Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect.
D. Both Assertion and Reason are incorrect.
E. If the assertion is false but reason is true.

Answer 1

Chipko movement or Andolan was based on Gandhian thought. This movement raised certain fundamental issues and questioned the development based on the ruthless butchery of nature. It was a totally voluntary movement that relied on the motivation of people.

Complete answer: In December, 1972, the illiterate tribal women of a small hilly village of the upper reaches of Himalayas protested against the exploitation of the forests by the timber merchants. This demonstration transformed into the first Chipko movement in Mandela village of Chamoli district on 26 march, 1974 when people declared that they would cling to trees if trees were felled by a sports goods company.
Chipko means “to embrace or hug”, in Hindi. The movement was led by Shri Sunder Lal Bahuguna and Shri Chandi Prasad Bhatt.
Later a voluntary institution called Dasholi Gram Swarajya Sangh was formed and a massive membership campaign was launched to demonstrate against removing trees and upto 1978 this movement spread over the entire Tehri-Garhwal area of Uttaranchal.
The main aim of the Chipko Andolan was to give slogans of five Fs that are food, fodder, fuel, fibre and fertilizer trees and to make communities self-sufficient in all their basic needs. It was concerned with the ecological balance of nature. It propagated the idea that ecology is a permanent economy.
The significance of this Andolan was that it simulated an all-round debate on the problems of social and economic development. It also inspired similar movements in other parts of the country also, like the Appiko movement in Karnataka which was led by Shri Panduranga Hedge.
So, the correct answer is “Option C”.

Note: Such types of movements and Andolans helped people understand the importance of trees and forests in maintenance of a healthy ecosystem. Forests help in preventing soil erosion, landslides and provide us various natural resources like food and fodder.