From Chipko toFrom Chipko toJhapto CheenoJhapto Cheeno

New Environmental Justice New Environmental Justice Movements in the Indian Movements in the Indian

HimalayasHimalayas

CAG 2005CAG 2005

June 4, 2005June 4, 2005

Outline of Presentation

Geographic Setting The Chipko Movement (1970s-1980s) Academic Interlude Post-Chipko Movements (1980s-

1990s) Jhapto Cheeno Movement (1998-

2005)

A New Indian State, 2000

Three new states, Uttaranchal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh created in 2000, after decades of struggle by their residents

Uttaranchal

Jharkhand

Chhattisgarh

Uttarakhand: Terrain of Resistance

Nanda DeviBiosphere Reserve

Henwal Valley

TehriDam

“Backbone of the Hills” Female majority in all

interior districts Feminization of poverty

observed Subsistence cultivation

on small parcels of land Remittance

supplements family income

Access to common lands, health services, water major issues

Birthplace of the Chipko

Chipko - literally “to hug” Active phase from 1973 to 1987 Major milestone in the global environmental

movement, focus on resource rights Celebrated confrontation between mainly

village women and loggers that resulted in local forests being saved.

Spread to rest of Uttarakhand Himalayas, inspired women environmental activists throughout world including at Clayoquot.

Gaura Devi, 1925-1991

Heroine of Reni forest defense action, 1974

President of Reni Women’s Association

Dedicated life to community defense & development

Died in penury

Mass Mobilization, 1970s

Academic De(con)struction

Anupam Mishra writes first history of Chipko (1978), followed by Shiva & Bandyopadhyay (1986), Weber (1987), Guha (1989), Routledge (1993), Küchli (1997)

Critiques launched by Aryal (1994), Mawdsley (1998), Bandyopadhyay (1999), Rangan (2000), mostly targeting Shiva’s ecofeminist interpretations

Mawdsley (1998) & Rangan (2000) update the Chipko story with comparisons to the Uttarakhand separate state struggle that raged throughout the 1990s

However, post-Chipko movements ignored…

Other Social Movements associated

with Chipko Prohibition Movement (ongoing) Beej Bachao Andolan (late 1980s-) Maiti Movement (1995-) Jal Andolan (1997-) struggles against mines, dams,

development-induced displacement local community regeneration &

development campaigns

Tehri Dam Struggle,1978-2004

Direct Action by Women, 1993

Dam Struggle shifts to Rehabilitation 2002-

Bahuguna, Chipko veteran gives up struggle

Matu People’s organization continues agitating for proper rehabilitation

Protracted struggle leaves little desire for repeat

Uttarakhand Movement, 1994-2000

Uttarakhand Movement, 1994-2000

Mobilization of practically entire population

Women again at the forefront, with 80% participation

Largely non-violent, met with police repression

Struggle for autonomy, self-determination, development

Renewed Mining Struggles, 2001-

Henwal Valley in Tehri District witnesses successful 1980s protests against mining

Establishes landmark constitutional environmental guarantees

Mining pressures resume around Kataldi village, courts support mining company 2001-2003

Women-led protests met with intimidation, veteran Chipko activists arrested

Ironies of Chipko

State deployed environmental narrative to strengthen control over natural resources, while ignoring the demand for the repatriation of land and forest rights to local communities.

In Gaura Devi’s own community, this led to large-scale dispossession in the name of conservation through the creation of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve.

A Look at the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve

Core Zone 640 km2

Buffer Zone 1600 km2

Altitude Range 1900–7817m

12 peaks over 6400m

Diverse variety of microclimates

Biodiversity hotspot Complete ban on

access

Jhapto Cheeno, 1998-2001

Creation of national park created enormous hardship for local communities.

Unilateral imposition of western model, draconian ban on local access & end to tourism industry alienated villagers, turning them against government-led conservation efforts.

In 1998, Lata village launched the Jhapto Cheeno (“Swoop and Grab”) movement, involving direct action against the ban.

Core Zone Protest, 1998

Core Zone Protest, 1998

Nanda Devi Women’s Festival, 2004

Launch of 30th anniversary of Chipko celebrations

Cultural survival through indigenous knowledge & practices honoured

Chipko Anniversary & Reconciliation, 2004

Divisions of early years between Chamoli & Tehri districts mended

Role of women recognized

However, tensions with park authorities remained

All-Women’s Squad Reunited

Campaign Press Coverage

Feature Article: “Peasants deprived of their landin the name of ecology” GEO January 2005

“Ecotourism Awards 2nd Runner-Up”Conde Nast Traveler July 2004

“Paradise Regained”National Geographic Adventure

June/July 2005

Bali Devi in Nairobi, 2004

First Chipko woman to travel outside India

Shared dais of opening plenary with Wangari Maathai

Spoke & sang in local dialect about unity of struggles

Reaffirmed roots of contemporary struggles in history of resistance.

Many thanks to the communities of Lata

& Henwalghati

— uttarakhand.net —— nandadevi.org —