SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

Gov 1255: Politics of IndiaProf Prerna SinghSOCIAL MOVEMENTS Part ISocial MovementsEnvironmental Movements

Womens Movements

Sexual Minority Politics (Guest lecture by Prof Chaitanya Lakkimsetti)Environmental MovementsForest Resources

Water ResourcesConflict over Forest ResourcesChipko (Hug the Trees) Movement in the Central Himalayas in 19734Chipko Movement

Conflict over ForestsChipko (Hug the Trees) MovementRepresentative of wide spectrum of forest-based conflictsTraced to establishment of the Indian forest department in 1864. This was a watershed:PoliticalSocialEcological

6Conflict over ForestsIntensified in post-Independence years because of new ecological dimension dwindling forests

Popular movements focus on 2 issues:Return of control of forests to community. State must withdraw.

Contrast between the subsistence orientation of villagers and the commercial orientation of the state.

Conflict over WaterBig Dams

Nehrus temples of modern India

Three Critiques of Big Dams: Economic critique: States invariably overvalue benefits & undervalue costsEcological critique: High incidence of water logging & wholesale submergence of large tropical forests and precious wildlife & fishlifeSocial critique: Displacement of millions of poor villagers from their ancestral homelands without adequate consultation or compensation

Narmada River Projects

Narmada Bachao Andolan/Save the Narmada CampaignLeader of the Narmada Bachao Andolan: Medha Patkar

Critiques of the Narmada Dams by the NBA that the project has been conceived without adequate participation from the people who are going to be affected; that many dams are not viable solutions to many of the problems (power, drinking water, flood control, irrigation) they set out to solve, and that there needs to be a greater emphasis on the search for alternative solutions from all concerned (Government, NGOs, people); that the construction and planning of many dams has disrupted (and will potentially disrupt) the lives of millions of people without just and adequate compensation

Expected benefits of the Sardar Sarovar DamJudgement of the Supreme Court of India in 2000:

"The argument in favour of the Sardar Sarovar Project is that the benefits are so large that they substantially outweigh the costs of the immediate human and environmental disruption.

there appears to be no alternative to escalating human deprivation, particularly in the dry areas of Gujarat.

The project has the potential to feed as many as 20 million people, provide domestic and industrial water for about 30 million, employ about 1 million, and provide valuable peak electric power.

Set against the futures of about 70,000 project affected peoplethe ratio of beneficiaries to affected persons is well over 100:1.Environmental MovementsForest- Chipko MovementWater - Narmada Bachao AndolanGandhian Social MovementsDemonstrations & Satyagrahs

Peaceful Response to Police Repression

Fasts

Jal Samadhi/ Water Burial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7J_B3MFQ2Q

Environmental Movements Raise issues for:Distributive justice Economic sufficiency Environmental Sustainability Gov 1255: Politics of IndiaProf Prerna SinghSOCIAL MOVEMENTSWomens MovementsNo single movementOn diverse issues

Traditional focus: Womens educationWidow remarriageNew focusAlcoholismPhysical Abuse by HusbandsInflation Environment (Chipko)Dalit issues

Womens MovementsEarly Womens Movements:Movement against Dowry

Movement against Dowry

Womens MovementsEarly Womens Movements:Campaign against DowryCampaign against Rape

Womens MovementsEarly Womens Movements:Campaign against DowryCampaign against Rape

Features of Early Womens Movements:Popular support Legislative successes

Womens MovementsLater Womens Movements:Critiques from sections of traditionalist societySuccess of early womens movementsRise of religious fundamentalismPro-sati movementsReal woman vs. Feminists