Activity Update May 2013: Pench Maharashtra

Team: Anoop Awasthi – Conservation Officer

            Bandu Uikey – Field assistant

            Dilip Lanjewar – Field assistant

 

Highlights

• One voluntary work project to clean water hole at Narhar
• Ones voluntary work project to  create small water hole for domestic livestock and birds next to well at Khapa
• One voluntary work project to clean area next to hand pump  at Fulzari and create small water hole for domestic livestock and birds
• One voluntary work project to clean area next to hand pump at Pipariya
• One voluntary work project to clean well used to draw drinking water at Ghatpendari
• 3 nature trail for kids of Ghoti, Fulzari and Salai village
• 6  medical camps –  150  patients treated
• Assisted forest department in forest patrolling with members of Village Eco Development Committee (VEDC)  Sillari, Khapa, Wagholi, Ghatpendari
• Assisted 3 unemployed youth of Ghatpendari in getting job locally
• Restart Computer education programme for tribal kids of Sawara village
• Bandu participated in waterhole census

Conservation work

On May 13, Dilip led a team of 10 children of Pipariya in a programme to clean the area around a hand pump in the village. 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.

On May 20, Anoop and Dilip led a team of 5 youths and 10 children of Fulzari in a programme to clean the area around a hand pump in the village. 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. A pit next to the hand pump collects the spill over water. The pit had steep sides, which prevented livestock from drinking the water. Our team levelled and smoothened the slopes and the pit has now become a waterhole for livestock and birds.

Fulzari - water body before the cleaning programme

Slopes being smoothened so livestock can reach the water easily

On May 20, Bandu led a team of 8 youths of Ghatpendari village in a programme to clean a well used to draw drinking water and an adjoining water tank used by livestock. Leaves, plastic and other organic matter had accumulated in the well and the tank. The team cleaned both, collected the waste matter and disposed of it.

Ghatpendari - removing scum from a tank used by livestock for drinking

Ghatpendari - village well filled with organic litter before cleaning

On May 23, Bandu led a team of 4 youths and 3 forest staff of Narhar village in a programme to cleaning "Kuttopani" waterhole near Narhar. Leaves, wood and other organic matter had accumulated in the waterhole and was proving a hindrance for wild animals in drinking. The team cleaned the water hole, collected the waste matter and disposed of it.

Cleaning the waterhole at Narhar

Narhar - waterhole after cleaning

On May 24  Dilip led a team of  5 youth  of  Khapa village in a programme to create a small water hole for livestock and birds next to well. 

On May 25, 26 Bandu took part in annual waterhole census at Bandra nala machaan.

On May 15, Bandu led 7 children from Salai 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.

On May 15, Dilip led 10 children from Ghoti 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. Similar nature trail was organized on May 23 for 9 children of Fulzari village.

Above, below - Dilip leading children of Ghoti on a nature trail

Salai - Bandu speaks to children about conservation on a nature trail

On May 4, field assistant Dilip Lanjewar joined local staff of the Forest Department in an anti-poaching patrol along with members of the eco-development committee (EDC) of  Wagholi.  At total of seven such programmes were organized in May. Details are given in the table above.

Ghatpendari - forest guard and members of the Village

Eco-Development Committee on anti-poaching patrol

Sillari - Dilip and a forest guard lead members of the VEDC on
an anti-poaching patrol

Education

There were no classroom programmes in May as schools were shut for the annual summer vacation.

Satpuda Foundation has been running a volunteer-driven initiative to bring computer education to village children. This programme is running on a pilot basis in Sawara village, where we have installed 2 desktops and 1 laptop, which were received from individual and institutional donors. We have hired Ishwar Dhawle, a local computer-trained youth to teach the children while volunteers from Mumbai and Nagpur will monitor progress. People involved in the programme include Ms Rajashree Khalap, Kirti Chavan, Amit Badiyani and Manish Sawankar.

Employment Cell

There were 3 placements of unemployed youths in May. When we were informed of vacancies, we identified suitable youths and introduced them to the Forest Department who selected them after due process.

Education van programme

There were no programmes in May as schools were shut for the annual summer holiday.

Mobile Health Unit (MHU)

We assisted Nature Conservation Society, Amravati in holding 6 medical camps in May.

Ghatpendari - villagers register for free treatment

Salai - Round Officer V M Kamble at our medical camp