Activity Update January 2015: Satpura Tiger Reserve

Highlights

·      5 water conservation voluntary work projects during the month – 2 new soak pits and 3 check dams

·      5 awareness programmes on vermi-compost

·      Classroom visits to 14 schools as part of our environment education programme – attended by 779  students

·      Medical camps in 6 villages - 260 patients treated

·      Village meeting for relocation work

·      Visit to check on status of relocated villages

Conservation

During January, we organized 5 voluntary work project programmes related to water conservation.  

On January 22, we organized programmes to build a check dam on a stream, inside the jungle, around 3 km from Jamandhonga village. 15 children from Government Middle School Jamandhonga joined hands with Ashfaq to build the dam. The resultant water body will benefit domestic livestock in the day time and wildlife at nights. Spotted deer and monkeys are regularly spotted in the area.

On January 23, we organized a programme to build a check dam on a stream around 2.5 km from Matkuli village. Ashfaq and Hameed Khan led a team of 30 children from Government Middle School Matkuli in the programme. The resultant water body will benefit domestic livestock in the day time and wildlife at nights. Spotted deer and monkeys are regularly spotted in the area. Photo below.

On January 30, we organized a program to dig a soak pit at the Government Primary School, Mohgaon. 10 students from the school joined hands with Ashfaq in digging the pit, which will take spillover water from a hand pump on the school premises. The pit will help to recharge the water table around the hand pump.

On January 30, we organized a program to dig a soak pit at Matkuli village. 10 students from the school joined hands with Hameed Khan in digging the pit, which will take spillover water from a hand pump, located on the outskirts of the village. The pit will help to recharge the water table around the hand pump. Photo below.

On January 31, we organized a programme to build a check dam on a stream around 3.5 km from Maili village. 32 children from Government Primary School Maili, Government High School Matkuli and villagers joined hands with Ashfaq to build the dam. The resultant water body will benefit domestic livestock in the day time and wildlife at night. Spotted deer and monkeys are regularly spotted in the area. Photos below.

As part of our efforts to reduce villagers’ dependence on forests for firewood, we organize programmes to promote the use of bio-gas. We also encourage villagers to use vermi-compost to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers in areas adjoining wildlife habitats. As part of this strategy, we organized 5 programmes in January to promote the use of vermi-compost and bio-gas. The details are given in the table below:

Photos of the programme in Tekapur:

Education

During the month, our team made classroom visits to 14 schools to educate children about nature and wildlife conservation.

Mohgaon - Ashfaq and teachers discussing conservation issues that the
students could work on

Khari - Conservation Officer Ashfaq Aarbi talking to children about nature 

Mehandikheda - Field Assistant Hameed Khan at nature education class 

MHS (Mobile Health Service)

During the month, Satpuda Foundation organized 6 medical camps at which villagers got free treatment and medicines. These camps, whose schedule is set in conjunction with the management of the Tiger Reserve, are run by the Mobile Health Service (MHS) of Satpuda Foundation

There were health camps in 6 villages in January.

Chirrai health camp

Mohgaon - villagers taking free medicines from the ambulance

Health camp, Matkuli

                                      

Employment Cell

Chetak Enterprises of Nimbaheda, Rajasthan, is engaged in road construction and toll collection in our area of operations. A senior official of the firm asked our team to arrange a meeting with unemployed youths in order to discuss employment opportunities with them. Ashfaq arranged meetings in 2 villages on January 17 at which 30 youths met the official and were briefed on employment opportunities. The firm has informed us that it will select 7 youths from the 30 and will offer them jobs as toll collectors.

Proposed relocation

Ashfaq organized meetings of the residents of Jamandhonga, Chakar, Muhar, Mongra and Raikheda villages to discuss relocation-related issues. Ashfaq was asked to organize these meetings by Shri R.P. Singh (Field Director), and Shri Sanjeev Sharma (Range Officer, Pachmarhi Range), Satpura Tiger Reserve.

Relocated villages

Ashfaq visited the relocated villages of Dhargaon, Nandner, Kukra, Anjandana and Nayakheda during January to follow up on the status of the relocated villagers.

The main issues raised by the villagers related to lack of electric power and approach road.

Nayakheda villagers at the new site