Activity Update August 2014: Tadoba

Team:

Bandu Kumare – Field assistant

Highlights

·      1 community assistance voluntary work project – programme to clean area around well at Sitarampeth

·      2 workshops on snake bites for STPF staff

·      3 sapling plantation programmes at Moharli, Adegaon and Kutwanda

·      One programme to clean soak pit at Chorgaon

·    1 meeting of SHG members to discuss conservation and livelihood activities at Katwal

·      Classroom visits to 10 schools as part of our environment education programme – attended by 282 students

·      Film shows on nature and wildlife conservation at 9 places – attended by 395 people

·      Health camps in 10 villages – 325 patients treated

·      2 visits to follow up on status of relocated villagers of Jamni and Navegaon   

Conservation

On August 13, Bandu organized a programme at Sitarampeth to clear the area around a well. Water had spilled over while people drew from the well. This had stagnated, leading to proliferation of mosquitoes and insects. Our team cleared the area, removing scum and organic growth and dug a canal to drain away the water. 5 youths from the village joined Bandu in the programme.

On August 10, Bandu organized a programme at Adegaon to plant saplings. 12 youths from the village joined Bandu in the programme. A similar programme was organized on August 10 at Moharli in which 10 students participated and at Khutwanda on August 14 in which 16 students took part. A total of 24 saplings were planted in the three programmes.  The saplings included  janbhul, karanj,gulmohar, neem and arjun.

Raksha Bandhan is a festival to celebrate the relationship between brothers and sisters. In this festival, the sister ties a rakhi (ornamental thread) to the arm of the brother and he, in turn, promises to protect her. Bandu used this festival to promote awareness of conservation. He motivated women of Adegaon and Moharli to tie rakhis to trees in the village with a promise to take care of the trees.

Adegaon planting and rakhi programme

Programme at Moharli

On August 12, Bandu organized a programme to clear a soak pit at Chorgaon. The pit was clogged with organic waste and was overflowing. Bandu and 14 students of the village’s primary school cleaned the pit, draining the water away and lined the bottom of the pit with sand and gravel.

During August, Satpuda Foundation also organized 2 workshops on snake bites. During the monsoon, snakes come out of their pits as these get flooded and there is greater occurrence of humans being bitten by snakes. Deputy Director of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Mr. Kadaskar, had asked us to organize workshops to provide knowledge to the members of the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) on how to deal with snake bites. We, therefore, arranged for a doctor with experience in dealing with victims of snake bites address the members of the STPF at Moharli and Tadoba on August 3. The doctor, Pankaj Kohole, was part of our Mobile Health Unit visiting Tadoba. Photos below.

On August 17, Bandu arranged a meeting with members of a self-help group (SHG) at Katwal to discuss conservation and livelihood activities. The SHG members agreed to assist us but only after the farming activities are over.

Katwal: Bandu discusses livelihood options and conservation issues
with members of the village Self Help Group

Environment Education

Bandu visited 10 schools in August to give lectures on nature and wildlife conservation.

Kondegaon - classroom lecture on environment conservation

Education Van

There were 9 film shows on nature and wildlife in August.

Adegaon students and staff watch a wildlife film

MHU

There were 10 health camps in August.

Palasgaon: Dr Pankaj Kohale examines a patient at our free medical camp