October 2012 Activity Report: Kanha

Team: Amit Awasthi – Conservation Officer

            Sampathlal Dhurve – Field assistant

           

Highlights

• Wildlife Week programmes 
• One voluntary work project for water conservation – check dam built near Chapri
• 2 anti-plastic programmes
• 2 compost pits constructed in 2 villages
• Community assistance - 1 voluntary work project programme to clean main village road of Chapri
• Environment education  programme conducted in 11 villages - attended by 374 students
• 2 unemployed youths placed in local jobs
• Surveys done in 6 villages to identify youths for training programmes proposed by Forest Department
• Vegetable seeds distributed to 15 villagers in 4 villagers as part of alternative livelihood options
• Eight film shows on nature and wildlife conservation – attended by 440 people

Conservation 

On October 26, our team of Amit Awasthi and Sampathlal Dhurve organized a programme to build a check dam on a stream in the jungle around one km from Chapri. 11 youths and children from the village joined out team in the programme to create a water body which will be used by both domestic and wild animals. Spotted deer, wild boars and foxes are seen regularly in the area.

Check dam being built at Motojodhi nullah near Chhapri

On October 19, our team organized an anti-plastic programme at Manegaon. They explained to the students of the Government Primary School about the harmful impact of plastic/polythene on the environment and motivated them to remove such litter from the village. The students went around the village, collecting plastic and polythene litter/waste, which were then buried in a pit on the outskirts of the village. A similar programme was organized at Chapri on October 23.

We also assisted two villagers in digging compost pits as part of our goal to encourage organic farming. Details of the pits are given in the table above. 

Bhagwat Dhurve digging compost pit in Chapri

During October, our team organized 1 programme to promote public hygiene and cleanliness as part of our community assistance activities. On October 27, a programme was organized at Chapri in which 10 villagers joined hands to clean the main village road which had become overgrown with wild growth due to the heavy monsoon rains.

Chapri - the road before being cleared of weeds and wild growth

Education

During the month our team organized environment education programmes in 11 schools in the villages in our area of operations.

Employment Cell

We helped two youths get jobs during the month of October.

Suraj Uikey of Patpara, who got a job at a resort with our help

Our Kanha team has been encouraging local villagers to take up vegetable farming on a commercial basis in a bid to help them generate additional income. There is scope for commercial farming of vegetables due to the large number of hotels and resorts around Kanha.

Chapri - Patiram Dhurve's vegetable patch

Patiram Dhurve's vegetable patch

Kutwahi - Pappu Nanda in his vegetable patch set up with our help

During October, we distributed seeds to 15 villagers in 4 villages. The seeds included the following: cabbage, cauliflower, tomato, spinach, red spinach, onion, okra/ladies fingers, radish.

Manegaon - Amit Awasthi distributes seeds to villagers

Patpara - Amit distributes vegetable seeds to villagers

The Field Director, Kanha Tiger Reserve, had asked us to join in their plans to provide training in various crafts/skills to village youths. As part of this activity, we conducted surveys in 6 villages to identify suitable youths for training, collecting details of their educational backgrounds, interests in vocations, etc. A total of 95 youths have been identified and their details handed over to the Forest Department.

Manegaon - survey of unemployed youths

Sautiya - Amit discusses skill development programmes with village youths

Education Van

There were 7 film shows in October on nature and wildlife conservation.

Mocha - wildlife film show at Government Middle School