Activity Update June 2014: Pench Maharashtra

Team: Saket Agasti - Assistant Conservation Officer

            Bandu Uikey, Dilip Lanjewar – Field Assistants

Highlights

• Three voluntary work project programs to clean water bodies at Ghoti and Ghatpendari
• Celebrated World Environment Day on June 5 in two villages
• Field assistant Bandu Uikey joined Forest Department staff on anti-poaching patrols four times
• Two nature awareness rallies on World Environment Day at Narhar and Ghatpendari
• Organized 8 medical camps at which 243 patients were treated
• Organized village meetings at Ghoti, Wagholi, Khapa, Ghatpendari, Wanera, Sawangi, Kolitmara to discuss village development issues through Village Eco Development Committee (VEDC)

Conservation

On June 16, Dilip organized a programme in Ghoti to clean a water tank which is used by domestic livestock for drinking. The tank had become dirty due to organic growth. 13 villagers joined Dilip in the programme. Photos below.

A similar programme was organized on the same day in Ghatpendari in which 7 villagers joined Bandu. Photo below.

On June 18, Bandu organized a programme to clear a canal going through the village. This small canal was blocked with garbage and soil, due to which waste water was not being drained from the village properly. Eight villagers joined Bandu in the programme.

On June 5, World Environment Day was celebrated in Ghatpendari and Narhar. A rally of school children was organized at Ghatpendari village. In this rally, children spread awareness in the village about environment by chanting conservation slogans in the procession. Round Officer Mr. Nighot assisted in the programmes.

Rally in Ghatpendari

On June 5, Bandu organized a nature trail for the children of Ghatpendari. On the trail, he explained various aspects of conservation to the children and also helped them identify and understand local flora and fauna. Dilip organized similar trails at Ghoti on June 7 and at Khapa on June 10.

Nature game at Ghoti

Dilip guides children on a nature trail, Ghoti

Bandu identifying trees on nature trail at Ghatpendari

On June 10 and June 17, Dilip joined staff from the Forest Department and members of the village eco-development committees of Khapa and Wagholi on anti-poaching patrols.

Patrol in forest near Khapa

Bandu joins forest patrol with STPF near Kolitmara

In West Pench, Bandu joined similar patrols on June 15 and June 22 at Kolitmara and Ghatpendari respectively.  No illegal activity was noticed during the patrols.

During June, we attended a number of VEDC meetings in villages in the buffer area of Pench Tiger Reserve (details given in the table above). Saket, Bandu and Dilip attended these meetings and offered support to the committees on development and conservation issues.

Dilip speaks at VEDC meeting at Ghoti

Bandu and Saket at a meeting for the formation of a VEDC at Sawangi

Khapa - local dignitaries address the gathering
on World Environment Day

Dilip speaks at a function to mark World Environment Day - Khapa

Sawangi - Bandu conducting a survey as part of the process of creating
micro-plans

Environmental Education Programmes

In June, there were no environment education programmes held in our area of operations as attendance in schools had not yet picked up after the re-opening of schools.

IT Education Programme

Satpuda Foundation has been running a programme to introduce computers to children living in the remote villages adjoining Pench Tiger Reserve in both Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The Foundation has installed computers in 3 villages and hired a local trainer to impart computer skills to the children. In Maharashtra, this programme is being implemented in Sawara, with computers provided by us, and in Pipariya, using the school’s computers.

Education Van Programme

There were no film shows on nature and wildlife conservation in June as attendance in schools had not yet picked up after the re-opening of schools.

Mobile Health Unit (MHU)

There were 8 medical camps held in June in which 243 patients were treated.     

Medical camp at Ghoti

Medical camp at Kirangisarra