38.Naxalism and Environmental Movements

Question 1

When did the first non-Congress United Front government come to power in West Bengal?

Answer 1

The first non-Congress United Front government came to power in West Bengal in March 1967.

Question 2

Who was the local leader from Naxalbari who argued for protracted guerrilla warfare?

Answer 2

The local leader from Naxalbari who argued for protracted guerrilla warfare was Charu Majumdar.

Question 3

How did the Naxalite Movement under Charu Majumdar’s leadership attempt to address land distribution?

Answer 3

The Naxalite Movement used force to snatch land from rich landowners and distribute it among the poor and landless.

Question 4

What was the outcome of the government’s policy of repression against the Naxalite Movement?

Answer 4

By July 1967, the peasant movement was over with most of its leaders in jail due to the government’s repression.

Question 5

Where did similar movements to Naxalism take root apart from Naxalbari?

Answer 5

Similar movements took root in areas such as Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh.

Question 6

When did the CP (ML) (Communist Party of India - Marxist-Leninist) form?

Answer 6

The CP (ML) formed in April 1969.

Question 7

What did the formation of CP (ML) lead to in terms of the movement’s approach?

Answer 7

The formation of CP (ML) led to a shift from mass line to guerrilla action and individual annihilation.

Question 8

Did the Naxalite movement completely fade after 1975?

Answer 8

No, groups of Maoists continued to exist in remote pockets of the country, constituting a serious internal security threat in some regions of India.

Question 9

When did many splintered groups join hands to form the unified CPI (Maoist)?

Answer 9

Many splintered groups joined hands to form the unified CPI (Maoist) in the early 2000s.

Question 10

What is one cause of Naxalism mentioned in the text?

Answer 10

Tribal discontent is a cause of Naxalism.

Question 11

How does the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 contribute to tribal discontent?

Answer 11

The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 restricts tribal people from cutting even a bark, depriving them of their livelihood from forest produce.

Question 12

What contributes to the easy targeting of people by Maoists to join Naxalism?

Answer 12

People who lack a source of livelihood are often taken into Naxalism by Maoists who provide them with arms, ammunition, and money.

Question 13

What are some gaps in the socio-economic system of the country mentioned in relation to Naxalism?

Answer 13

Some gaps include the government focusing on the number of violent attacks rather than development in Naxal-affected areas, a lack of strong technical intelligence to combat Naxalites, and infrastructural problems such as inadequate communication networks in certain villages.

Question 14

What is one reason for the lack of follow-up from the administration even after the police take hold of a Naxal-affected region?

Answer 14

The administration fails to provide essential services to the people of that region.

Question 15

How is Naxalism sometimes perceived differently by authorities?

Answer 15

There is confusion over whether to tackle Naxalism as a social issue or as a security threat.

Question 16

How do state governments sometimes view Naxalism?

Answer 16

State governments may consider Naxalism as the central government’s issue and may not take initiatives to fight it.

Question 17

What is the Red Corridor?

Answer 17

The Red Corridor refers to the region in eastern, central, and southern parts of India where the Naxalite-Maoist insurgency has the strongest presence.

Question 18

How has the Red Corridor changed over time?

Answer 18

The Red Corridor has been diminishing in terms of geographical coverage and the number of violent incidents.

Question 19

In what year was the Red Corridor confined to 25 “most affected” and 70 “total affected” districts?

Answer 19

In 2021, the Red Corridor was confined to 25 “most affected” and 70 “total affected” districts.

Question 20

How many states does the Red Corridor span across?

Answer 20

The Red Corridor spans across 10 states.

Question 21

What are the two main clusters where the Red Corridor is located?

Answer 21

The Red Corridor is located in two coal-rich, remote, forested hilly clusters: the Dandakaranya-Chhattisgarh-Odisha region and the tri-junction area of Jharkhand-Bihar-West Bengal.

Question 22

What was Operation Green Hunt?

Answer 22

Operation Green Hunt was a government initiative started in 2010, involving the massive deployment of security forces in Naxal-affected areas to combat Left Wing Extremism.

Question 23

How many districts were affected by Naxalism in 2010, and how many are affected currently?

Answer 23

In 2010, 223 districts were affected by Naxalism. Over the years, the number has decreased to 90 districts.

Question 24

What is the objective of the Aspirational Districts Programme?

Answer 24

The objective of the Aspirational Districts Programme is to address Left Wing Extremism comprehensively by focusing on security, development, rights of local communities, governance improvement, and public perception management.

Question 25

What is the purpose of Operation ‘SAMADHAN’?

Answer 25

Operation ‘SAMADHAN’ is an initiative by the Ministry of Home Affairs to combat Naxalism. It focuses on various aspects such as leadership, strategy, training, actionable intelligence, technology utilization, and financial restrictions.

Question 26

What technological interventions have been suggested by the MHA to combat Naxalism?

Answer 26

The MHA has suggested the use of weapon trackers, biometrics in smart guns, and Unique Identification numbers for Gelatine sticks and explosives. Additionally, UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are deployed for each CAPF battalion in Naxal-affected areas.

Question 27

What steps have been taken for better inter-state coordination and intelligence sharing?

Answer 27

Joint Task Forces have been established for operations along inter-state boundaries to enhance inter-state coordination and intelligence sharing.

Question 28

Which scheme focuses on filling critical infrastructure gaps in Left Wing Extremism affected states?

Answer 28

The Scheme for Special Infrastructure in Left Wing Extremism affected States aims to fill critical infrastructure gaps in those areas.

Question 29

How does the government assist state police in addressing Naxalism?

Answer 29

The government provides assistance in training state police through the Ministry of Defence, supports community policing, and implements civic action programs.

Question 30

What policy framework guides efforts to address Left Wing Extremism?

Answer 30

The “National Policy and Action Plan to address Left Wing Extremism” is in place to eliminate the menace of Naxalism in the shortest possible time frame.

Question 31

What is an environmental movement?

Answer 31

An environmental movement is a social or political movement that aims to conserve the environment or improve its state. It is also known as the green movement or conservation movement.

Question 32

What is the focus of environmental movements?

Answer 32

Environmental movements advocate for the sustainable management of natural resources and often emphasize changes in public policy. They are centered on ecology, health, and human rights.

Question 33

What is the Chipko Movement?

Answer 33

The Chipko Movement was a forest conservation movement that originated in Uttarakhand, India in 1973. It became a symbol of non-violent protest and inspired environmental movements worldwide.

Question 34

What were the causes that led to the Chipko Movement?

Answer 34

The Chipko Movement was sparked by reckless deforestation in the region, which led to devastating floods in the Alaknanda River in 1970. The movement also arose due to landslides and land subsidence caused by rapid civil engineering projects.

Question 35

What were the methods employed in the Chipko Movement?

Answer 35

The Chipko Movement practiced methods of Satyagraha and involved both male and female activists from Uttarakhand. Prominent activists included Gaura Devi, Suraksha Devi, Sudesha Devi, Bachni Devi, Chandi Prasad Bhatt, Virushka Devi, and others.

Question 36

Who played a significant role in shaping the Chipko Movement?

Answer 36

Sunderlal Bahuguna provided leadership to the Chipko Movement and guided its direction. The success of the movement gained international attention and inspired similar eco-groups and movements worldwide.

Question 37

What was the impact of the Chipko Movement?

Answer 37

The Chipko Movement helped slow down deforestation, expose vested interests, raise social and ecological awareness, promote the need to save trees, and demonstrate the power of people’s involvement. It also inspired other movements against environmental degradation, such as the Appiko movement in the Western Ghats region.

Question 38

What was the objective of the Save Silent Valley Movement?

Answer 38

The Save Silent Valley Movement aimed to protect the Silent Valley, a tropical forest in Kerala, India, from being flooded by a hydroelectric project.

Question 39

When did the Save Silent Valley Movement start and who led it?

Answer 39

The movement started in 1973 and was led by an NGO comprising school teachers and the Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP).

Question 40

What was the proposed project that threatened Silent Valley?

Answer 40

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) proposed a hydroelectric dam across the Kunthipuzha River that ran through Silent Valley.

Question 41

What were the concerns raised by the opponents of the project?

Answer 41

The opponents feared that the project would submerge 8.3 square kilometers of untouched moist evergreen forest in Silent Valley.

Question 42

What actions were taken by the NGOs and activists against the project?

Answer 42

Several NGOs strongly opposed the project and urged the government to abandon it, leading to a public pressure campaign.

Question 43

When did Indira Gandhi make the declaration to protect Silent Valley?

Answer 43

In January 1981, Indira Gandhi declared that Silent Valley would be protected in response to the persistent public pressure.

Question 44

What was the outcome of the commission chaired by Prof. M.G.K. Menon?

Answer 44

In November 1983, the Silent Valley Hydroelectric Project was called off following a re-examination of the issue by the commission chaired by Prof. M.G.K. Menon.

Question 45

When was the Silent Valley National Park officially inaugurated?

Answer 45

The Silent Valley National Park was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1985.

Question 46

Why were dams proposed to be constructed on the Narmada River?

Answer 46

India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, called for the construction of dams on the Narmada River to control excess water flow and aid local people and the nation’s development.

Question 47

What were the names of two of the largest proposed dams on the Narmada River?

Answer 47

The two largest proposed dams were Sardar Sarovar Dam and Narmada Sagar Dam.

Question 48

What was included in the Narmada Valley Development Project approved by the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal?

Answer 48

The project included 30 large dams, 135 medium dams, and 3,000 small dams, including raising the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam.

Question 49

Who initiated the Narmada Bachao Andolan and why?

Answer 49

In 1985, Medha Patkar and her colleagues initiated the Narmada Bachao Andolan after noticing construction work being halted due to an order by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Question 50

When did the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam begin and what concerns did the affected people have?

Answer 50

Construction began in 1987, and the affected people were given no information about the project but were offered rehabilitation.

Question 51

What significant event took place in May 1990 organized by the Narmada Bachao Andolan?

Answer 51

The Narmada Bachao Andolan organized a 2,000-person, five-day sit-in at PM V. P. Singh’s residence in New Delhi, which convinced the Prime Minister to reconsider the project.

Question 52

What was the Narmada Jan Vikas Sangharsh Yatra?

Answer 52

In December 1990, approximately 6,000 men and women started the Narmada Jan Vikas Sangharsh Yatra, a march covering over 100 kilometers to protest the construction of the dam.

Question 53

Who initiated an indefinite hunger strike in January 1991, and how long did it continue?

Answer 53

Baba Amte and a seven-member team began an indefinite hunger strike that continued for 22 days, accompanied by a sit-in unto death.

Question 54

When was the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam completed and who inaugurated it?

Answer 54

The construction was finished in 2006, and the height of the dam was increased from 138 meters to 163 meters. It was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi in 2017.