Team:
Anoop Awasthi – Conservation Officer
Bandu Uikey, Dilip Lanjewar – Field assistants
Highlights
Conservation work
On October 15, Anoop Awasthi and Bandu Uikey led a team of 22 villagers and unemployed youths in a programme to build a compost pit at the Zilla Parishad Primary School, Ghatpendari. Students will drop food leftovers, vegetable and fruit peels as well as daily litter into the pit to be converted into compost over a period of time. This is part of our programme to reduce dependence on chemical-based fertilizers in areas adjoining Tiger reserves in the landscape.
On October Anoop and Dilip Lanjewar led a team comprising 10 villagers and 10 school students in a programme to clean the surroundings around a hand pump at Usaripar.
Bandu joined staff of the Forest department in anti-poaching patrols twice in October – on October 6 and October 16. The patrols were in the jungle near Ghatpendari.
Education
During October, our team visited 9 schools to deliver lectures on nature and wildlife conservation.
Education van programme
There were 5 film shows on wildlife in October.
Mobile Health Unit (MHU)
There were four camps in October.
November
Highlights
Conservation work:
On November 5, Anoop Awasthi and Bandu Uikey led a team of 10 villagers and unemployed youths in a programme to clean a waterhole in the jungle around 10km from Ghatpendari village. The waterhole lies in the core area of the National Park and is used by wildlife. Four workers employed by the Forest Department on daily wages and a Forest Guard also participated in the programme.
A similar programme was organised on November 19 in another waterhole around 1-2 kms further away. Four workers employed by the Forest Department on daily wages and a Forest Guard joined hands with 12 villagers and our team in the programme.
On November 6, Anoop and Dilip Lanjewar led a team comprising 37 students and 2 teachers of Zilla Parishad Upper Primary School, Zinzeriya in a programme to clean the surroundings around a hand pump at Zinzeriya. Spillover water from the pump had stagnated, creating a bog. The team worked to clean up the area.
Bandu joined staff of the Forest department in an anti-poaching patrol on November 6 in the jungle near Ghatpendari.
Education
During November, our team visited 12 schools to deliver lectures on nature and wildlife conservation.
Employment Cell
One unemployed youth got a job in November through our assistance.
A tribal dance group, comprising villagers from Sawara, earned Rs 5,000/- in November through 2 programmes. The group was set up with our assistance and we help it by speaking to resort owners to organise performance by the group.
A villager, Shatrughan Warthi, earned Rs 600/- in November by selling lantana products. The products were sold through the efforts of Mumbai-based SF volunteers Ms Rajashree Khalap, Ms Bipasha Majumdar and Kirti Chavan.
Mobile Health Unit (MHU)
There were six camps in November.
Conservation:
On October 18, Anoop and Niranjan led a team of 7 students from Government Middle School (GMS), Potiya in a programme to clean an open water tank next to a hand pump in the school campus. The tank collects the run-off water from the hand pump and is used by livestock for drinking. Due to negligence, it had become clogged with debris and food materials were decomposing in the tank. It was a health hazard as it had become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects. Our shramdaan cleaned it up.
On October 19, Niranjan led 54 students and four teachers of GMS, Potiya in a conservation rally. The participants went through the village, chanting slogans in favour of conservation. Rallies are part of our programme to sensitise communities living close to protected on the need for nature and wildlife conservation.
Education
During the month, our team visited 4 schools to deliver lectures on nature and wildlife conservation.
Two youths got jobs in October thanks to our efforts.
Mobile Health Unit (MHU)
We assisted Nature Conservation Society, Amravati in holding 8 medical camps in October.
Conservation work:
On November 20, Anoop and Niranjan led a team of 7 children from Khamba village in a programme to dig a soak pit next to a hand pump used to draw drinking water. Spillover water had stagnated around the hand pump, creating a small bog which had become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects. Our team cleaned up the area and dug a pit to take the spillover water. The soak pit will help recharge the surrounding water table.
On November 11, Niranjan led 55 students and 2 teachers of Government Middle School (GMS), Telia in a conservation rally. The participants went through the village, chanting slogans in favour of conservation. Rallies are part of our progamme to sensitise communities living close to protected on the need for nature and wildlife conservation.
On November 25, Niranjan led 10 children from Telia village on a nature trail in the jungle adjoining the village. On the trail, Niranjan identified various species of local flora and fauna and explained the need for conservation to the children.
Education
During the month, our team visited 13 schools to deliver lectures on nature and wildlife conservation.
Employment Cell
One youth got a job in November thanks to our efforts.
Education van programme
There were 6 film shows in November.
Conservation:
On October 14, Bandu organised an anti-plastic programme at Chorgaon in which school students cleaned up the village of plastic litter and waste. The litter/waste was then buried in pits.
23 students of the ZP Primary School and 1 teacher joined hands with Bandu in this task (above).
A similar programme was organised on October 15 at Adegaon with 18 students.
Cleanliness drive at Kondegaon
As part of our community assistance, we have been working with villagers on the need for public hygiene and cleanliness. As the monsoon has just ended, many roads/paths are overgrown with weeds and wild growth, which provide cover for snakes. We organized 3 programmes in October to clean up such paths/roads. The details are in the table above.
Cleanliness programme at Sitarampeth
On October 13, Bandu led 14 students of ZP Primary School, Mudholi on a nature trail in the jungle adjoining the village. Bandu, who earlier worked as a guide in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, helped the children identify local flora and fauna and explained the need for nature and wildlife conservation to them.
As part of our education/awareness programme, Bandu also organised a drawing contest on nature and wildlife at the ZP Primary School, Mudholi. 12 students of the school participated.
Separately, Bandu organised 3 conservation rallies (at Kutwanda on Oct 5, at Chorgaon and Adegaon on Oct 7), 1 nature trail at Sitarampeth on October 5 and one drawing contest at Kondegaon on October 7 as part of the Wildlife Week celebrations.
Drawing contest during Wildlife Week at ZP School, Kondegaon
Forest guard Kodwate talks to children about wildlife at Sitarampeth
Nature trail during wildlife week - Sitarampeth
Students and teachers of Kutwanda pose for a photo after nature trail
Street play with wildlife conservation message by children of Moharli
Conservation rally at Chorgaon
Conservation rally during Wildlife Week, Kutwanda
Rally on malnutrition in Moharli
On October 14, Bandu went to Dewada to monitor the progress of saplings planted in July. Bandu conducts regular follow-up visits to ensure that the saplings are watered properly and that they get adequate protection from livestock.
Tending to saplings planted during the monsoon at Dewada
Similar follow-up visits were made to Moharli on October 16 and Bamdeli on October 18.
Tending to saplings planted earlier in the year at ZP High School, Moharli
Education
During October, Bandu visited 9 schools to deliver lectures on nature and wildlife conservation.
Employment Cell
During October, Bandu helped one youth get temporary employment with the Forest Department. As part of our livelihood assistance programme, Bandu is in regular touch with local agencies, including the Forest Department, to track potential employment opportunities for village youths. When he got to know of one such vacancy as a tracker/patroller in the Forest department, he approached Round Officer Inwate. Shri Inwate met the youth introduced to him by Bandu, interviewed and then appointed him for a three-month term.
Pravin Pendam of Dewada, who got a job as a tracker with our assistance
A driver’s training programme organized for 20 youths of Kolara concluded on October 22. The youths will now go to the RTO for their tests before getting licences. Once the youths get their licences, we will assist them in getting jobs. The programme is funded through a donation received from Ms Diya Bannerjee, a wildlife activist and supporter of conservation work.
Mobile Health Unit (MHU)
We assisted nature Conservation Society, Amravati in conducting health camps in 6 villages during October.
Above, below: medical camp at Sonegaon
November
Highlights
Conservation
On November 4, our field assistant Bandu Kumare organised a shramdaan programme (voluntary work) to build a check/stop dam on a stream in the jungle around 1 km from Sitarampeth. One teacher from the village’s Zilla Parishad Primary School, two school officials and 16 students joined hands with Bandu in the shramdaan. The resultant body will benefit wildlife. Sloth bears, wild boars and nilgai are regularly spotted in the area.
On November 15, a similar programme was organised at Chorgaon to build a stop dam on a stream next to the jungle around 1 ½ kms from the village. Two villagers joined 5 teachers and 57 students of the ZP Primary School in the programme. Both domestic livestock and wildlife will benefit from this water body. Villagers say they have spotted leopards, barking deer and wild boars in the area.
Above, below: Check dam built through the shramdaan programme at Chorgaon
On November 5, Bandu went to Chorgaon to monitor the progress of saplings planted in July-August. Bandu conducts regular follow-up visits to ensure that the saplings are watered properly and that they get adequate protection from livestock. Similar follow-up visits were made to Moharli on November 9, Kondegaon on November 10 and Katwal on November 20.
On November 8, Bandu organised an anti-plastic programme at Sitarampeth in which school students cleaned up the main village road of plastic litter and waste. They then cleaned up the school premises.The litter/waste was then buried in pits. 13 students of the ZP Primary School and 1 teacher joined hands with Bandu in this task.
A similar programme was organized on November 10 at Dewada with 14 students and
two teachers.
On November 10, Bandu led 17 students of ZP Primary School, Kondegaon on a nature trail in the jungle adjoining the village. Bandu, who earlier worked as a guide in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, helped the children identify local flora and fauna and explained the need for nature and wildlife conservation to them.
Education
During November, Bandu visited 10 schools to deliver lectures on nature and wildlife conservation.
Employment Cell
During November, Bandu helped one youth get employment at Chandrapur. Earlier in the year, Bandu had helped two youths get jobs at a shop which deals in chickens. On a follow-up visit to check on their progress, Bandu was told by the owner of the shop that he needed more people. Bandu then arranged for a youth from Kutwanda to get the job.
A driver’s training programme which we had organized for 20 youths of Kolara concluded on October 22. 15 of the trainees passed their RTO test at the first attempt on November 30. The remaining 5 will take the test again in December.
The programme was funded through donation received from Ms Diya Banerjee, a wildlife activist and supporter of conservation work.
Above, below: Diya Banerjee and SF staff interacting with youths trained in driving 4-wheelers in a programme funded by Diya in Kolara.
Education Van
There were 10 film shows on nature and wildlife in November.
MHU
We assisted nature Conservation Society, Amravati in conducting health camps in 6 villages during November.
Bhagwanpur
Bandu visited Bhagwanpur on November 13-14 and November 29-30 to follow up on the status of the relocated villagers.
The status of the villagers is not very good. While the Kolsa side of the village is able to do farming activities properly, the Botezari side is struggling due to non-availability of water. Unless the Moulzari tank is built, this section of people will continue to struggle.
Due to poor farming yield, the villagers are struggling for livelihood. Some of them have now started to steal wood from the adjoining forest and sell this in Chandrapur to earn some money.
With the soya bean crop having been harvested, the villagers who went for daily wage work to Jam and Samudrapur have also returned are idle in the village.
Villagers went to Chandrapur to meet the FD, TATR and SP and submitted a petition asking
- that the village be renamed Bhagwanpur-Botezari
- villagers said that at a meeting held in March, the District Collector Chandrapur had promised a grant/subsidy assistance of Rs 47,000/- per resettled family. This has not yet been paid. (reported already in July)
- Bhagwanpur villagers want a separate GP for themselves. Currently, they are listed as attached to Tolewahi GP. The villagers have not paid their property tax for the past 4-5 years. As a result, the Tolewahi Gram Panchayat is not pushing any development work in the village.
- Villagers want the internal roads and gutters to be concretized
