Paper short abstract:

The purpose of the this paper is to study the Gandhian way of non-violent environmental movement in India for protecting natural resources against big dams and mining industry and their major concerns about the land, water, and forests (Jal, Jamin, Jangal) and all the natural resources of the locality, which are the only sources of their livelihood. It examines poor people’s dependence on limited forest products and to what extent people are losing their basic rights on sources of traditional livelihood due to the process of industrialization and developmental projects.

Paper long abstract:

Environmental Protest Movement (EPM) of grass root organizations are more likely to succeed through marches, hartal, demonstrations, hunger strike, rallies, meeting, folk plays etc. and the environmental protest movements in India are on the path of Gandhian way of Satyagraha.

Development means that all should live peacefully and happily. However, people do not require the kind of development where they themselves are victimised. Since independence, development projects in the forms of building industries, dams and mining have been a cause of displacement and livelihood loss of millions of forest dwellers, tribals, dalits and peasants in India. While the movements are carried out primarily by those directly affected by the establishment of industries, dams & mines in that localities which include the rural peasant, the forest tribal, dalits, their women folk and so on. It also includes the role of voluntary organization, the media, social activists, professionals, civil and human rights groups and academician who have created a public space that supports the movements to a large extent.