For state’s women, Raksha Bandhan is also for the trees
DEHRADUN:
Women of the state have always shared a feeling of kinship with trees
as a consequence of the Chipko and Raksha Sutra movements. The leader of
Chipko, Gaura Devi, compared the forests to her parents' home.
Beginning in 1994 and continuing for six years, thousands of women
protected trees by tying rakhis around them during the Raksha Sutra
Andolan. This tradition is still religiously followed during the Raksha
Bandhan festival.
Suresh Bhai, founder of the Raksha Sutra Andolan told TOI, "The state government had banned the felling of trees from 1983 onward after the Chipko movement. When the ban was lifted in 1994, it was found that forest staff had been axing green and fruit-laden trees all over the state in the name of dry trees. So thousands of women stopped the forest teams from tree felling by tying rakhis around the trees. Some 121 forest personnel were also suspended in Uttarkashi and Tehri divisions for illegal felling after an inquiry." Bhai cautioned that this time, too, if the forest department felled trees other than chir pine, he would revive the movement.
On Friday, women in Matli village tied colourful rakhis around trees near the village. Local resident Himla Behen said, "We tie rakhi on trees as they are like our brothers. They protect our lives by giving us clean water, air, wood for our kitchen and fodder for our animals. They are also like our parents' home where we gather during the day to share our joy and sorrow."
She said that people living near the forests should be given the rights to protect the forests, use of forest produce and management and the forest department should take the help of the local populace for all these tasks.
According to Pavna Nautiyal, a resident of Timla village, the Raksha Sutra movement reminded them of their deep bond with the forest. Under the unique concept of van panchayat, she said, people themselves judiciously used forest resources. They do not take away fodder beyond a fixed quantity, which is weighed on a scale kept in the forest. A villager takes the role of chowkidaar to prevent any illegal entry into the forest
Suresh Bhai, founder of the Raksha Sutra Andolan told TOI, "The state government had banned the felling of trees from 1983 onward after the Chipko movement. When the ban was lifted in 1994, it was found that forest staff had been axing green and fruit-laden trees all over the state in the name of dry trees. So thousands of women stopped the forest teams from tree felling by tying rakhis around the trees. Some 121 forest personnel were also suspended in Uttarkashi and Tehri divisions for illegal felling after an inquiry." Bhai cautioned that this time, too, if the forest department felled trees other than chir pine, he would revive the movement.
On Friday, women in Matli village tied colourful rakhis around trees near the village. Local resident Himla Behen said, "We tie rakhi on trees as they are like our brothers. They protect our lives by giving us clean water, air, wood for our kitchen and fodder for our animals. They are also like our parents' home where we gather during the day to share our joy and sorrow."
She said that people living near the forests should be given the rights to protect the forests, use of forest produce and management and the forest department should take the help of the local populace for all these tasks.
According to Pavna Nautiyal, a resident of Timla village, the Raksha Sutra movement reminded them of their deep bond with the forest. Under the unique concept of van panchayat, she said, people themselves judiciously used forest resources. They do not take away fodder beyond a fixed quantity, which is weighed on a scale kept in the forest. A villager takes the role of chowkidaar to prevent any illegal entry into the forest
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