Activity Update February 2013: Satpura Tiger Reserve

Highlights

   

·      5 voluntary work projects during the month – 3 to build soak pits and 2 ‘bori  bandhaans’ to build check/stop dams

·      Classroom visits to 18 schools as part of our environment education program – attended by 841 students

·      5 unemployed youths placed in jobs at Jabalpur/Bhopal at starting salary of Rs 3,500/- per month

·      One livelihood programme – to train unemployed youths as security guards

Conservation

During February, we organized 5 voluntary work projects related to water conservation.

On February 11, we organized a “check dam” programme to build a check dam on a stream in the jungle around 3 kms from Anjandana village. 10 children from Government Middle School (GMS) Anjandana joined hands with Ashfaq. The resultant water body will benefit domestic livestock in the day time and wildlife at nights. Spotted deer, wild dogs and monkeys are regularly spotted in the area. Gaurs are also spotted, although less regularly.

On February 15, we organized a programme to dig a soak pit at the Government Primary School (GPS), Malni, campus.12 students from the school joined hands with our field assistant Vikram Parte in digging the pit, which will take spillover water from a hand pump in the school premises. The pit will help to recharge the water table around the hand pump.

On February 16, we organized a programme to dig a soak pit at the Government Anganwadi (play school) campus at Mana village. 9 students from the school joined hands with Vikram in digging the pit, which will take spillover water from a hand pump used by the school children. The pit will help to recharge the water table around the hand pump.

A similar programme was organized by our field assistant Umashankar Yadav at GPS, Kukra on February 16, in which 12 student participated.

On February 28, we organized a “check dam” programme on a stream in the forest around 2 kms from Raikheda village. 10 children from GPS Raikheda joined hands with Umashankar in building the dam. The resultant water body will benefit domestic livestock in the day time and wildlife at night. Spotted deer, wild dogs, sloth bears and monkeys are regularly spotted in the area.

Education

During the month, our team made classroom visits to 18 schools to educate children about nature and wildlife conservation. 

Employment Cell

5 youths from both clusters got jobs in February thanks to our assistance.

Details of the placements are as follows:

Training Programme

Centre for Entrepreneurship Development of Madhya Pradesh (CEDMAP) regularly organizes livelihood and skill-enhancement training programmes at Bhopal. They invited Satpuda Foundation to send candidates from our area of operations to a programme to train youths as security guards. We identified 5 youths from the two clusters where we work and sent them to Bhopal for the programme, which ran from February 16 to 20. Satpuda Foundation bore part of the expenses for the training programme.