Activity Update April 2016: Pench Madhya Pradesh

Highlights

Aamajhari - Our field assistant Niranjan repairs a bio-gas fuelled stove

Doodhgaon - Our field assistant Kamlesh and children
from village observe birds on a nature trail 

Khamarpani - Dr. Zanzal examines a patient at our free medical camp

Kohoka - Assistant Director Anoop Awasthi discusses
village development issues at meeting

Satosha - Our field assistant Niranjan demonstrates
use of an improved stove which uses less firewood and emits less smoke

Turia - Villagers prepare compost pit 

Tuyepani - Our field assistant Kamlesh speaks about
environment conservation to students of village school

Tuyepani - Students of village school set off on conservation awareness rally 

THE FULL REPORT

Team: Anoop Awasthi – Assistant Director

            Niranjan Hinge, Kamlesh Pawar – Field Assistants

 

Highlights

·      Organized voluntary work project to make a compost tank at Turia

·      Organized voluntary work project to prepare a water hole at Tuyepani

·      Celebrated World Earth Divas in buffer villages at Tuyepani and Aamajhari

·      Organized conservation rally and anti-plastic drives to clean school campus at Satosha and Kundai

·      Organized 2 demonstrations on smokeless chullah at Satosha and Turia

·      Installed water pots for birds in Turia, Tuyepani and Doodhgaon

·      Organized 10 nature trails for school children – attended by 79  students

·      3 environmental education programmes – attended by 65  school children Organized 8 medical camps -- 185 patients treated

Conservation 

On April 22, Kamlesh Pawar organized a voluntary work project program to construct a waterhole for birds and cattle as part of World Earth Day (Vishwa Vasundhara Diwas) celebration in Tuyepani village. 4 villagers participated in the voluntary work project program.

The waterhole construction was done within the school premises to conserve excess water from the hand-pump. In the programme, Kamlesh and the students dug a pit to collect the excess water flowing from the hand-pump.

On the same day, Anoop Awasthi and Niranjan Hinge organized an awareness program in Aamajhari village, which was inaugurated by the president of the village eco-development committee (VEDC) by offering prayers to trees. During the celebrations, villagers pledged to conserve forests and hence save Mother Earth from destruction. Anoop and Niranjan then informed villagers about ways to conserve water, soil and biodiversity by constructing soak pits, compost pits and through plantations and opposing deforestation.

On April 25, Niranjan Hinge organized a voluntary work project to construct a compost pit in Turia village. 8 villagers volunteered for the programme. As part of its soil conservation activities, Satpuda Foundation encourages villagers and farmers to construct compost pits. The compost pit helps the villagers to prepare organic compost from farm and household waste. As opposed to using chemical-based fertiliser in farms, organic compost produce less wastage and are safe to handle as the organic waste is decomposed completely. Using the compost thus prepared helps farmers to avoid use of harmful chemical fertilizers and thus help conserve soil and reduce soil and water pollution.

On April 26, Niranjan organized an awareness rally and anti-plastic drive in Satosha village. Niranjan encouraged 20 children of Satosha to participate in the rally to create awareness amongst the villagers to protect and conserve wildlife. During the rally, students chanted slogans like “Bagh hai to jungle hai. Jungle hai toh jal hai. Jal hai toh jeevan hai. Jeevan hai toh hum hai!” (Forests exist because of Tigers. We get water because of forests. Life exists because of water. We exist because there is life!). Niranjan explained the importance of wildlife and its conservation for human existence to the students. A similar programme was organized by Kamlesh with help of 40 children from Kundai village.

On April 14, Anoop and Niranjan joined a village meeting at Kohoka village at which issues like sustainable development were discussed with the villagers. Water conservation, soil conservation, human-animal conflict, organic farming, poultry farming, animal husbandry and stall feeding, aquaculture, micro plans for rural development and empowerment were the main issues discussed during the meeting. The meeting was part of the Government’s Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan which means 'Shining Village leads to India Shining'.

On April 18, Niranjan along with 4 children of Turia village installed containers with water for birds during the summer season. The innovative artificial water containers were made from used plastic bottles. Niranjan encouraged the children to regularly fill up the water pots with water so that the birds have water during dry summer season. Immediately after the pots were installed, the children were able to spot various birds like bulbuls, sunbirds, shrikes, sparrows, magpie robins etc at the water pots. Similar programme were organized by Kamlesh on April 26 with help of 2 children of Tuyepani and on April 29 at Doodhgaon with help of 2 children.

On April 13, Niranjan Hinge demonstrated use of an improved smokeless chullah (stove) in Turia village. 16 villagers from Turia learnt the use of the chullah which requires 40% less firewood. The chullah also produces less smoke as compared to the conventional chullah and is thus less harmful for the user. Similar programme were organized on April 19 at Satosha village in which 23 villagers participated.

In April, we organized a total of 10 nature trails for the children of Satosha, Teliya, Turia, Potiya, Jamuntola, Ambadi, Aamajhari, Doodhgaon, Pulpuldoh and Chirrewani villages. On the trails, our staff spoke to the children about the various plants and common medicinal uses of those plants. They were also taught how to spot and identify birds. Importance of birds in nature also explained to the children.

Environmental Education Programme

We conducted 3 environment education programmes in April which were attended by 65 students. 

Education Van Programme

There were no film shows during April due to annual school examinations.

Mobile Health Service (MHS)

We held 8 medical camps in April, in which 185 patients were treated.