Social Reform Movements: Women's Empowerment and Weaker Sections

Gaura Devi was a prominent activist who led the women of Reni village in the Chipko movement to protect forest trees from being cut down.

The Chipko movement gained significant momentum in 1973 in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India, as a non-violent protest against deforestation.

The Laatne Morcha was a famous protest demonstration led by Mrinal Gore in Mumbai, where women used rolling pins to protest against rising prices and shortages of essential goods.

Maharashtra was the first state in India to enact legislation regarding pre-natal diagnostic techniques to prevent sex-selective abortions, setting a precedent for the national act.

Mrinal Gore was affectionately called 'Paaniwali bai' because of her tireless efforts to secure water supply for the residents of Goregaon, Mumbai.

The Bhoodan (Land Gift) Movement was initiated by Vinoba Bhave in 1951, aiming to persuade wealthy landowners to voluntarily donate land to landless peasants.