Activity Update February 2018: Tadoba

Highlights:

Nature education class at Adegaon

Check dam built at Mudholi

Volunteers building a check dam near Katwal

The completed check dam at Katwal

Field Assistant Kishor Dudhbarai discussing livelihood options with
Katwal villagers

Cleanliness drive at Katwal

Nature game to teach children about conservation, Kondegaon

Meeting to discuss fodder plantation, Kondegaon

Kondegaon villagers cleaning the area around the well

Volunteers join a forest patrol around Khutwanda

THE FULL REPORT

Team:

Conservation Officer: Mr. Ajay Poddar

Field Assistant: Mr. Kishor Dudhbarai

Highlights of the month:

·      2 anti-plastic drives and programmes to prevent man- animal conflict - 63 villagers participated.

·      2 check dams built  - 15 youths participated

·      1 foot patrol in Tadoba buffer with 8 youths of Khutwanda

·      3 women’s SHG meetings were organized - 36 members attended

·      6 VEDC meetings were organized - 45 members attended

·      2 environmental education programmes including presentations, nature trails in Zilla Parishad (ZP) schools - 54 students attended

·      Medical camps in 6 villages – 318 patients treated

Conservation  

On February 8th we organised cleanliness and anti-plastic programmes with villagers and students of the Zilla Parishad (ZP) schools of Katwal, Khutwanda, Kondegaon and Dewada villages. Programmes were organised to clean the area in and around the villages and around the hand pumps and wells as they choke the drainage. This also prevents man-animal conflict, as shrubs and wild growth provide shelter to snakes and scorpions and attract scavengers.

On 21st and 23rd, we constructed check dams in Mudholi and Katwal villages through a voluntary work project. 15 youths from Katwal and Mudholi participated in the programmes.

On February 13th, we organised a foot patrol in forest area around Khutwanda village with 8 local youths from the village, to monitor predator movement and threats like snare traps, electric fencing etc. The youths were taught to identify scrape marks on trees, scats (predator and prey), plants, birds and insects.

Environment Education

On February 6^th and 12^th, we organised classroom lectures and presentations for students of the Zilla Parishad (ZP) schools of Adegaon and Kondegaon. Presentations and talks were organised about forest fires -- causes, damages and prevention. After the classroom sessions, nature-oriented games and nature trails were also organised for the students. 

Education Programmes:

Employment Cell

We organised 3 Self-Help Group (SHG) meetings and 6 Village Eco-Development Committee (VEDC) meetings, focusing on alternative livelihoods that would reduce dependence on the forests. 81 villagers attended these meetings.

In VEDC meetings, we discussed and explained short- and long-term benefits of fodder plantation and cattle stall feeding to reduce grazing pressure on forest areas. 

We introduced the villagers to district-level vocational training and employment schemes like four wheeler driver training, hospitality courses under Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gramin Kaushal Yojna (DDUGKY) etc.

We also spoke to youths interested in four-wheeler drivers training and introduced them to the residential training programme at Ashok Leyland training centers in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh and Raipur; and also to the JCB operator training with Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in Chhindwara.  

Details of the programmes are given below:

Mobile Health Unit:

Team:  Dr. Dhammanand R. Sardar, Coordinator: Mr. Ashok Athawale. MHU driver: Mr. Gajanan Shanware

6 camps were organised by us in February, at which a total of 318 patients got free treatment and medicines.