Activity Update June 2014: Pench Madhya Pradesh

Team: Saket Agasti – Assistant Conservation Officer

            Niranjan Hinge, Bandu Uikey – Field Assistants

 

Highlights

• One voluntary work project programme to clean well at Turia village
• One voluntary work project to clean area around a hand pump at Ambadi
• World Environment Day celebrated on June 5
• One rally to celebrate World Environment Day at Satosha village
• Four nature trails for school children of Turia, Khamba and  Satosha village
• Two film shows on nature and wildlife – viewed by 68 villagers
• 8 medical camps at which 162 patients were treated

Conservation

On June 18, Niranjan arranged a community awareness and well-cleaning programme at Turia. The area around the well was choked with wild growth while the inner walls of the well were lined with organic growth. Six people from the village, including women and youths, joined Niranjan in the programme.

On June 23, a voluntary work project was arranged at Ambadi village to clean the area near a hand pump. This hand pump is regularly used by the villagers for their domestic and drinking water needs. However, due to heavy growth, approach to the hand pump had become difficult. Niranjan led a team of seven volunteers, comprising children from the village school, in the programme to clean the area.

On June 5, World Environment Day was celebrated with the children of Satosha village. An awareness rally was organized with the help of school staff from the village. Children went through the village spreading awareness about various environmental issues by chanting slogans “Humara Farz Nibhayenge, Pariyawaran ko Bachayenge” (Hindi) meaning 'We will do our duty of protecting the environment.'

On June 5, Niranjan took children from Satosha on a nature trail in the jungle adjoining the village. On the trail, he helped the children spot local birds and explained the importance of birds in the environment. Some of the common birds spotted here are: Green Bee-Eater, Indian Roller, Black Drongo, Black Ibis and Indian Grey Hornbill. He organized 3 more trails during the month and details are given in the table above.

On these trails Niranjan also played nature games with the children. These games are designed for developing participants’ interest in the environment while participating in fun-filled activities.

Environmental Education Programme

There were no classroom programmes in June as attendance had not yet picked up after schools reopened for classes. Schools were shut in April for the annual summer vacation.

IT Education Programme

Satpuda Foundation has been running a programme to introduce computers to children living in the remote villages adjoining Pench Tiger Reserve in both Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. In Pench MP this programme is being implemented in Teliya and Turia.

Education Van Programme

There were 2 film shows on nature and wild life conservation during June.

Mobile Health Unit (MHU)

We held 8 medical camps in June in which 162 patients were treated.