asked in 2005

1. Why are the Chipko-activists primarily village women?

Women bear the main burden of looking after the family and raising the cattle. The Hill region is deficit in food production and the majority of young men – the working force – have to go to the plains to earn money and send to the families.


2. How can India save the Himalaya region?

By clothing all the slopes by planting trees giving food, fodder, fuel and timber, leaf fertilizer and fibre. This will give permanent employment to the whole population and will become the source of permanent blooming.


3. How do you use the mass media to spread your message?

People live in remote areas, where newspapers do not reach, nor have they radios and televisions. So we adopted the method of spreading the message through folk songs. I also write articles on the issue of water and forests-environment in Hindi papers and thus make a national appeal.


4. How can your people survive in the hills?

By preventing young people going down to the plains and compelling the government to lift water on the hill tops, planting trees on all hill slopes and generating electricity from energy stream instead of building big dams like Tehri and flooding the fertile valleys. I have been sitting near the dam site for the last 15 years in protest.


5. You are an old man of 78. How can your mission continue after you have gone?

We should have life workers to save the Himalaya. These workers should have three qualities – dedication, devotion and determination. For their maintenance Himalayan people serving outside should contribute one days salary in a month. I have not yet succeeded in creating a life workers’ fund but shall continue my efforts.


6. What effect has the RLA had on your work?

I kept the money in fixed deposits and the workers are supported by its interest.