Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Activity Update May 2016: Pench Madhya Pradesh


Highlights:

 Aamajhari - Dr. Zanzal examines a Forest Department employee
at our free medical camp

Our field assistant Niranjan Hinge demonstrates
use of a stove which uses less firewood

Kohoka - Our field assistant Niranjan talks to village children
about the importance of birds on World Migratory Bird Day

Kundai - Volunteers dig a waterhole in programme organised by us

Mohgaon - Our officers Ajay Poddar and Anoop Awasthi
discuss livelihood options with members of local women's SHG

Turia - Our officers Ajay and Anoop explain our proposed programme
to train youths in driving four-wheelers

Tuyepani - Our officers Ajay and Anoop brief candidates
about the four-wheeler driver's training programme 

Tuyepani - Our field assistant Dilip Lanjewar demonstrates
the use of solar-powered fencing to protect crops
from damage by wild animals







Anoop Awasthi - Assistant Director
 Niranjan Hinge, Kamlesh Pawar– Field Assistants

Highlights     


·      One voluntary work project to create  a waterhole in Kundai
·      Two voluntary work project to construct compost pits in Turia and Dewri
·      One voluntary work project to clean well at Turia
·      One anti-plastic programme at Turia
·      Six  nature trails at Ambadi, Turia, Satosha, Jamuntola, Kundai and Tuyepani
·      Two meetings with women’s self help groups (SHGs) from Turia and Mohgaon (Khurd)
·      4 medical camps – 52  patients treated
·      Assisted one  youth to get a job  at a call center in Pune
·      Three meetings for youths from buffer villages was organised to inform about our proposed driving training programme
·      One demonstration on solar-powered fencing was organised in Tuyepani
·      Four demonstrations on smokeless stoves organised in Tuyepani, Dewri, Khamba and Awarghani
·      Celebrated International Migratory Bird Day 2016 at Kohoka and Kundai
·      Celebrated International Biodiversity Day 2016 at Turia and Tuyepani

Conservation 
























On May 30, Kamlesh Pawar organized a voluntary work project program to construct a compost pit near the village anganwadi (play school). 10 villagers volunteered for the voluntary work project program. After the harvest, leftover biodegradable waste from the farms will be dumped in the pit to become compost, which will be later used in the farms as fertilizer. This will reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and help improve the soil quality.

A similar programme was arranged by Niranjan Hinge on May 25 in Turia. 6 villagers volunteered to dig the compost pit.

On May 22, Kamlesh organized a voluntary work project at Kundai village to construct a temporary water hole for birds and village cattle. As most of the water bodies for cattle had dried up during the summer, they had started to wander into the forest area in search of water. Kamlesh along with 8 villagers constructed a temporary water hole inside the village, which will collect spillover water from a hand pump. Now the water hole is being used by domestic livestock as well as small birds, reducing the scope for man-animal conflict in this area.

On May 7, Niranjan Hinge led 5 villagers from Turia in a programme to clean a community well. The well water is now being used during the dry summer season when the ground water level is low. Generally villagers prefer to use water from bore-wells and use the well water only during periods of water scarcity

On May 21, Niranjan led 6 children from Turia village in a programme to collect plastic waste and help keep the village plastic free. Turia, which has a tourist entry gate to Pench Tiger Reserve attracts thousands of tourists during this season and this results in a lot of litter like plastic bottles, wrappers etc. Niranjan made people aware about the hazards of plastic waste both to the environment as well as to wildlife.

On May 14, we celebrated International Migratory Bird Day. Niranjan took 13 children from Kohoka village on a bird-watching nature trail near Kohoka Lake.

Kohoka Lake is house to many migratory birds like Ruddy Shelduck, Spot billed Duck, Storks, etc. Niranjan explain that water bodies like Kohoka Lake and nearby forest areas are important habitats for these migratory birds. He also explained the importance of conservation of these habitats. During the nature trail, the children spotted various birds like Sandpiper, Pintail duck, Lesser Whistling Duck, Honey Buzzard etc.

A similar program was organized by Kamlesh in Tuyepani village in which 6 kids enjoyed a nature trail.

On May 22, Satpuda Foundation celebrated International Biodiversity Day 2016 in Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh. On this occasion, Anoop Awasthi and Niranjan Hinge arranged a lecture, film shows and PowerPoint presentation on biodiversity of India. 33 children from Turia village participated in the celebrations.

Later, a drawing and painting competition was also arranged in which the children painted colorful pictures depicting the diverse flora and fauna of Central India.

Kamlesh Pawar also celebrated International Biodiversity Day in Kundai village with 8 children. Kamlesh took them on a nature trail in nearby forest area and educated them about the diverse species of plants, animals and birds unique to this region.

On May 25, Kamlesh Pawar, Dilip Lanjewar and Mandar Pingle arranged a demonstration on solar-powered fencing in Tuyepani. 15 farmers were present at the demonstration. Mandar and Dilip explained the use of solar-powered fencing to these farmers. Satpuda Foundation promotes the use of solar-powered fencing as a measure to reduce crop damage in farms close to forest area. Ungulates like wild boar, nilgai, sambar deer and chital deer are a constant menace for the farmers of this area. By using solar-powered fencing, the farmers can protect their crop from damage and also avoid causing serious harm to the wild animals, thus serving the purpose of wildlife conservation. Mandar, Dilip and Kamlesh answered the doubts of the farmers about the effectiveness of solar fencing and encouraged them to procure the fencing at subsidized rates from the Village Eco-Development Committees.    

On May 16, Niranjan Hinge demonstrated the use of improved stoves (smokeless chullah) which use less firewood and emit less smoke. 26 villagers from Awarghani attended the demonstration and learnt about the stoves which require 40% less firewood. The stove produces less smoke as compared to the conventional variety and is thus less harmful for the user. Similar programmes were organized at Khamba, Dewri and Tuyepani villages on May 18, 21, 19.

In May, we organized a total of 7 nature trails for the children of Satosha, Turia, Jamuntola, Ambadi, Kohoka, Tuyepani and Kundai villages. On the trails, our staff spoke to the children about the various local plants and common medicinal uses of those plants. They were also taught how to spot and identify birds. The importance of birds in nature was also explained to the children.

On May 18, our Employment Cell officer Ajay Poddar, Anoop Awasthi and Kamlesh Pawar organized a meeting at Mohgaon village to promote the concept of self-help groups (SHGs). At the meeting, the various livelihood options that could be taken up were also discussed. A similar programme was arranged by Niranjan on May 15 in Turia. In this meeting, 8 women were present. Niranjan discussed how to make pickles and market them effectively.

On May 19, our team organized a meeting of unemployed youth at Turia village in which 17 youths participated. Employment Cell officer Ajay Poddar, Anoop Awasthi and Niranjan discussed our plan to organize a programme to train youths as drivers of four-wheelers. A similar program was organized by Kamlesh at Tuyepani on May18 in which 12 unemployed youths participated.

Environment education

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

Employment Cell
   





Education Van Programme

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

Mobile Health Service (MHS)

Our team organized 4 medical camps in May.


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