Activity Update December 2014: Pench Maharashtra

Team: Saket Agasti - Assistant Conservation Officer

            Bandu Uikey, Dilip Lanjewar – Field Assistants

Highlights

·      One programme to clean a waterhole at Pipariya

·      One to clean a soak pit at Kolitmara village

·      Bandu and Dilip joined Forest Department staff on anti-poaching patrols 3 and 2 times respectively

·      Organized village meetings at Ambazari, Ghatkukda, Kolitmara to discuss village development issues through Village Eco Development Committee (VEDC)

·      One nature excursion for the students of Ghatpendari

·      Two nature trails held for students of Ghoti and Pipariya villages

·      Conducted 12 environment education programmes -- attended by 290 students

·      Six youths were identified by us for livelihood training programmes funded by the Forest Department

·      Organized 6 medical camps at which 161 patients were treated

Conservation 

On December 24, field assistant Dilip Lanjewar led a team of 10 villagers in a programme to clear a waterhole near Pipariya village. The waterhole is situated near the forest and is used by domestic animals in the day and wildlife at night. The water body was clogged with organic waste as well as plastic litter. Our team cleaned the waste and plastic from the area, making it safe for both wild and domestic animals. Photos below.

On December 22, Bandu led a team of 9 villagers from Kolitmara to clean a soak pit near a hand pump. The pit was clogged with mud and plastic litter and the excess water was stagnating in the area. As the water from the hand pump is frequently used by villagers, our programme helped reduce the threat from water borne diseases. The programme was also intended to promote awareness among the villagers about the dangers of dumping litter carelessly. Photos below: cleaning the area and canal near the hand pump.

On December 16, Bandu organized a nature tour for 18 students from Ghatpendari. The children were first taken to the Nature Interpretation Center at Kolitmara and later on a trail along the banks of Pench River where Bandu helped them spot and identify migratory birds. Photos below.

In December, villagers of Ghoti were given cooking gas connections at subsidised rates through the VEDC. The connections were distributed by G P Bobde, Range Forest Officer, East Pench range. Satpuda Foundation played a key role in forming VEDCs. Our team has prepared 20 micro-plans for villages adjoining Pench Tiger Reserve. The micro-plans form the basis for the introduction of schemes like cooking gas connections and the beneficiaries are also listed in the plans.

Range Forest Officer Bobde, distributing gas connections to villagers

On December 24 and 25, Dilip joined VEDC members and Forest Department staff on patrols at Khapa and Wagholi respectively. The team patrolled the borders of the village for illegal activities. No illegal activity was detected on these patrols.

Bandu joined similar patrols on December 6 and 30 at Ghatkukda Beat and Ghatpendari Beat of West Pench Range respectively.

Environmental Education Programmes

Sillari: Nikhil Saryam explaining a tiger's life cycle at the Nature 

Interpretation Centre

In December, we visited 13 schools to conduct programmes on environment conservation in schools in our area of operations.

Learning about snakes - Salai

Pipariya: students learn about the impact of rising population through a game
devised by us

Khapa: learning how rising population puts pressure on natural resources

On December 21, Dilip took students of Ghoti on a nature trail along Pipariya lake, where he spoke to them about the water birds and insects. He spotted various birds and butterflies on the trail for them.

Observing tadpoles at Pipariya lake

Ghoti: Dilip identifies birds with a field guide

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. The Foundation has installed computers in 3 villages and hired a local trainer, Ishwar Dhawale, to impart computer skills to the children. In Maharashtra, this programme is being implemented in Sawara, with computers provided by us, and in Pipariya, using the school’s computers.

Computer classes with Ishwar Dhwale, in Sawara

Employment Cell

In December, 6 youths identified by us were sent for training in vocational skills to the Montfort Institute at Patansawangi, Maharashtra.  The portion of the training fees will be provided by Pench Tiger Conservation Foundation. Satpuda Foundation was asked to identify suitable candidates and to motivate them to attend the programmes.

Mobile Health Unit (MHU)

There were 6 medical camps held in December in which 161 patients were treated.

Ghatpendari: Dr Ravi More checking a patient for eye infections