October 2012 Activity Report: Pench Maharashtra

Team: Anoop Awasthi – Conservation Officer

            Bandu Uikey, Dilip Lanjewar – Field assistants

Highlights

·      One voluntary work project to built compost pit behind inspection hut at Ghatpendari

·      Field assistant Bandu Uikey joined Forest Department staff on anti-poaching patrol once

·      2 nature trails for students at Khapa, Ghatpendari

·      Environment education programme in 13 villages -- covered 447 students

·      Wild life week celebration at Kolitmara, Narhar, Ghatpendari, Salai, Sawara, Usaripar, Kadbikheda, Zinzeriya, Khapa, Pipariya, Sillari, Fulzari, Ghoti

·      One voluntary work project to clean surroundings next to hand pump at Zinzeriya

·      Shatrughan Warti, a lantana craft worker of Sawara village earned Rs 700/- during month with our help

·      8 medical camps – 242 patients treated

Conservation work

On Oct 14 field assistant Bandu Uikey joined local staff of the Forest Department in an anti-poaching patrol. Members of the eco-development committee (EDC) of Ghatpendari and Bandu took part in the patrols in the jungle in Ghurad beat near Ghatpendari.

On Oct 18 Anoop & Dilip led a team of 20 children of Zinzeriya village in a programme to clean the area around a hand pump in Zinzeriya. Leaves, plastic and other organic matter had accumulated in the area and water was stagnating, leading to health risks. The team cleaned the area surrounding the hand pump, collected the waste matter and disposed of it in a pit. They then cleared up an area next to the school which had become littered with plastic. The area was also packed with wild growth. The whole place has been cleaned and is now used as a play area by village children. 

On Oct 21, Dilip led 10 children from Khapa village on a nature trail in the jungle adjoining the village. On the trail, Dilip spoke to the children about the importance of trees and wild life in our eco system.

On Oct 25 Bandu led a team of 8 unemployed youths and VEDC member of Ghatpendari village in a programme to construct a compost pit behind the Forest Department inspection hut at Ghatpendari. Waste food, organic litter and other materials will be dumped into the pit and will be converted to organic fertiliser over a period of time.

On Oct 30, Bandu led 5 children from Ghatpendari village on a nature trail in the jungle adjoining the village. On the trail, Bandu identified various species of local flora and fauna and explained the need for conservation to the children.

Nature trail, Ghatpendari

During the month, our team also worked with the Village Eco-Development Committee (VEDC). As part of this exercise, we held awareness meetings about conservation as per the following details

Education

In October, our team conducted environment education programmes in 13 schools in our area of operations.

Dilip Lanjewar speaks to children at GPS, Kadbikheda

Employment Cell

As part of our livelihood assistance programme, we had helped train a number of people in Sawara in making products from lantana and assisted them in marketing the same. Shatrughan Warti from Sawara made hangers from lantana and earned Rs 700/- in October with our assistance.

Mobile Health Unit (MHU)

Our team assisted Nature Conservation Society, Amravati in conducting 2 medical camps in October.

     

Wildlife Week

Telia - prize distribution after
Wildlife Week contests

Sawara - prize distribution after Wildlife Week programme

Zinzeria - SF's Anoop Awasthi distributes prizes
to winners of Wildlife Week contests