Bandu Uikey, Dilip Lanjewar - Field Assistants
April highlights:
· 1 shramdaan (voluntary work) to construct waterhole for birds at Ghoti
· Shramdaan for cleaning surroundings next to well at Ghoti
· Shramdaan for cleaning of well at Ghatpendari
· 1 anti-plastic campaign at Ghatpendari
· Field assistant Bandu Uikey joined Forest Department staff on anti-poaching patrol once
· Awareness programme on forest fires and on functioning of Van Samiti
· Assisted 5 unemployed youths in getting jobs
· Tribal dance group of Sawara earned Rs 4,500/- in April
· 6 girls sent to beautician’s training programme at Nagpur
· 6 medical camps – 215 patients treated
Conservation work:
On April 11, field assistant Dilip Lanjewar organised a shramdaan programme at Ghoti to dig a small waterhole for birds. The waterhole was dug on the outskirts of the village and 15 children from the village joined Dilip in the task.
On April 15, Bandu and Anoop Awasthi organized a shramdaan to clean a well at Ghatpendari used to draw drinking water. The well had become clogged with stones, broken bottles and other debris. As a result the well was not being used. Bandu led a team of 12 unemployed youths in cleaning the well and it is now usable for drawing drinking water.
Well-cleaning in progress, Ghatpendari
Material taken out of well during clean-up, Ghatpendari
On the same day, Anoop and Bandu also led a team of 10 unemployed youths on a programme to clear the campus of a local school (anganwadi) of plastic litter and waste. The team also cleared the road in front of the school as part of our programme to promote public hygiene and cleanliness.
Separately on April 15, our team organised a programme at Ghatpendari to promote awareness about forest fires and the damage caused by such fires. The meeting was also addressed by Shri Khante, Round Officer. Two forest guards, Munde and Chavan, were also at the meeting. Our team also spoke to the gathering about the functioning of the Van Samiti (Forest Committees) and the benefits of an effective and pro-active Committee.
Awareness programme on forest fires, Ghatpendari
On April 17, field assistant Bandu Uikey joined 2 staff of the Forest Department and 4 villagers on an anti-poaching patrol in the forest near Ghatpendari on the way to Dhatijhera.
On April 23, Anoop and Bandu led a team of 15 unemployed youths of Ghatpendari village in a programme to clean a well of debris and litter. Water from the well, which was earlier used for washing and cleaning purposes, can now be used for drinking.
On April 25, field assistant Dilip Lanjewar led a team of 20 villagers from Ghoti to clean surroundings next to a well used to draw drinking water. The area had become swampy due to spillover water. The team dug a canal to drain away the stagnant water and removed dirt and waste material lying around.
Cleaning area next to well, Ghoti
With the onset of summer heat, forest fires became an increasing hazard in the dry, deciduous forests of central India. Our Pench team assisted in fighting one such fire. On April 2, Turia-based field assistant Niranjan Hinge and Mumbai-based volunteer Kirti Chavan were returning to Turia village from Sawara where Kirti had conducted a module in IT education for the village school teachers. Near Bandra village on NH7, around 5 kms from Deolapar, they noticed a fire in the forest. They both started to fight the fire. While they were engaged in this work, 4 fire-watchers from the Forest Department joined them and, together, put out the fire.
Employment Cell:
Five village youths got jobs with the Forest Department through our assistance. Our team is in constant touch with local Dept officials to find out vacancies for temporary jobs which arise periodically such as fire-watchers and patrollers. We informed local village youths of the vacancies and took them to the Department. Five youths got jobs through this effort.
Below: A tribal dance group that we had helped set up at Sawara earned Rs 4,500 in April through two dance performances, one at Resort Tiger Safari (Pench).
During the month, our team also updated details of unemployed youths in 10 villages to assist us in better planning our strategy of providing alternative livelihood options to villages.
Our team also motivated and selected 6 girls to attend a beautician’s training programme in Nagpur. The programme, which was for one month, started on April 2. It was run by Bank of Maharashtra’ Self-Employment Training Institute (M-Seti) and was free for the participants.
In April, we also arranged for a follow-up training programme on honeybee rearing at Sawara. The first programme was conducted in December 2010. In April, the trainers from KVIC visited the village to clarify any doubts that the trainees had and also to ensure that the trainees were employing the skills taught to them.
Certificate awarded to successful trainees in honeybee rearing programme, Sawra
May highlights:
· 1 shramdhaan to construct waterhole for domestic livestock at Ghoti
· Shramdaan for cleaning well at Ghatpendari
· 1 shramdaan to clean a waterhole in jungle near Ghatpendari
· Assisted in fighting fire in forest near Ghatpendari
· Field assistant Bandu Uikey joined Forest Department staff on anti-poaching patrols twice
· Awareness programme at Ghoti on forest fires and organic farming – programme organized jointly with Agriculture Department
· Assisted 2 unemployed youths in getting jobs at Nagpur
· Updated details of unemployed youths in 8 villages
· Tribal dance group of Sawara earned Rs 3,000 in May
· Retail garments business earned Rs 3,000 in May
· 6 medical camps – 258 patients treated
Conservation work:
On May 8, field assistant Bandu Uikey joined 2 staff of the Forest Department and 2 villagers on an anti-poaching patrol in the forest near Ghatpendari.
A similar patrol was done on May 22, in which Bandu joined 3 others – 2 staff of the Forest Department and 1 villager.
On May 12, villagers at Ghatpendari noticed smoke rising from the forest. 12 members of the Van Samiti and Bandu rushed to the spot around 4 kms from the village where they found a large fire raging. It took the whole team around 3 hours to bring the fire under control.
On the same day, Bandu also organised a shramdaan to clean a waterhole in the forest around 7 kms from Ghatpendari at a place known as Uskaalghat. Pug marks of tiger and leopard have been spotted at the waterhole, according to Forest Department staff. Three staff of the Forest Department and 2 villagers joined Bandu and Anoop in the activity.
On May 19, field assistant Dilip Lanjewar organised a programme to create a waterhole for domestic livestock at Ghoti. Spillover water from an overhead tank turned the area below into slush. Our team realised that by cleaning up this area and by digging a pit, a waterhole could be created for the village’s animals. Dilip got a team of 20 villagers including school children and unemployed youths to participate in the programme.
Above: Waterhole construction in progress, Ghoti
Above: Waterhole completed, Ghoti
Local officials of the Agriculture Department approached Satpuda Foundation for assistance in holding a meeting at Ghoti to promote awareness of new, improved farming techniques and about Government schemes for farmers. Our team suggested that the occasion should also be used to promote awareness about organic farming and the harmful effects of forest fires and the need for villagers to take precautions against fires. A joint programme was held on the night of May 20 and 98 villagers participated. The Agriculture Department showed a film about organic farming during the programme.
Above, below: Awareness programme on organic farming and forest fires, attended by 98 villagers - organized by SF and the Agriculture Department at Ghoti
On May 26, Bandu organised a shramdhaan to clean a well at Ghatpendari used to draw drinking water. The well had become clogged with stones, broken bottles and other debris. Bandu led a team of 10 unemployed youths in cleaning the well and it is useable for drawing drinking water.
Well-cleaning in progress at Ghatpendari
Employment Cell:
Two unemployed youths were placed in jobs at Nagpur through our assistance. A friend of Dilip had told him about vacancies at a company called Bio-Tech private Company Ltd. Dilip arranged for 2 youths from his village to go to Nagpur for the jobs.
Below: A tribal dance group that we had helped set up at Sawara earned Rs 3,000 in May through two dance performances.
Above, below: Asha Madavi, of Ghatpendari, shows off beautician's skills acquired with our help
Jhagdu Uikey, who started retail trade in garments with our assistance and guidance, earned Rs 3,000 in May.
During the month, our team also updated details of unemployed youths in 8 villages to assist us in better planning our strategy of providing alternative livelihood options to villages. The villages are – Ghoti, Pipariya, Zinzeriya, Sawara, Usaripar, Kadbikheda, Ghatpendari, and Kirangisara.
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