Question

What is the "Amrita Devi Bishnoi National Award"?

Answer 1

Hint: Amrita Devi Bishnoi was associated with the Chipko Movement, protested against the tree-felling because such acts were prohibited by the Bishnoi's religion. She refused to let the king's men cut trees in her village.

Complete answer:
There have been enough instances of local people working traditionally for the conservation of forests. The Bishnois are considered as India's first environmentalists. For example, the case of the Bishnoi community in Rajasthan, for whom conservation of forest and wildlife has been a spiritual tenet. The famous ‘Chipko Movement' is inspired by Amrita Devi Bishnoi. She refused to let the king's men cut trees in her village. Her head was severed. The government of India has introduced an “Amrita Devi Bishnoi National Award for Wildlife Conservation” within the memory of Amrita Devi Bishnoi, who in 1731 sacrificed her life along with 363 others for the protection of “Khejri” trees in Khejarli village near Jodhpur in Rajasthan. The feudal party said that they would only cease if she paid them a bribe, which she refused to do because she saw that as ignominious and an insult to her faith. She said that she would rather give away her life to save the trees. She and her two daughters (Asu, Ratni, and Bhagu) were then killed by the party.

Note: -This award is given for significant and lead contribution in the field of wildlife protection. It is recognized as having shown exemplary courage or having done extraordinary work for the protection of wildlife.
-A cash award of rupees one lakh is presented to individuals/institutions involved in wildlife protection.