Activity Update April 2018: Tadoba

Cleanliness drive in Adegaon

Villagers from Katwal trained as backhoe loader operators,
now employed in Buldana

Dr Shailesh Pawde at our free health camp at Dewada

Katwal: our Field Assistant Kishor Dudhbarai discusses
livelihood options with villagers

Katwal: children cleaning up plastic litter

Wildlife film screening at Katwal school

Katwal students pose with the plastic trash collected

Field Assistant Kishor leading children on a nature trail

Mudholi Womens' Self-Help Groups discussing livelihood options
to reduce their forest dependence

THE FULL REPORT

Team:

Conservation Officer: Mr. Ajay Poddar

Field Assistant: Mr. Kishor Dudhbarai

Highlights of the month:

·      3 anti-plastic programmes - 52 villagers participated

·      5 women’s SHG meetings organised - 65 members attended

·      4 Village eco-development committee (VEDC) meetings organised - 47 members attended

·      9 environmental education programmes including presentations and nature trails in Zilla Parishad (ZP) schools – 272 students attended

·      Seed collection with students of Zilla Parishad (ZP) school, Khutwanda - 32 students participated

·      5 unemployed youths from Katwal village placed in jobs

·      Medical camps in 6 villages - 230 patients treated

Conservation 

On April 7, 12 and 22, we organised cleanliness and anti-plastic programmes with villagers and students of Zilla Parishad (ZP) school of Katwal, Khutwanda and Adegaon villages. Programmes were organised to clean the main areas in and around the villages and around the hand pumps and wells as they choke the drainage. Wild growth and litter provide shelter to snakes and scorpions and attract scavengers from the jungle.

Environment Education

On April 9^th, 10^th and 11^th our team visited Katwal, Khutwanda, Dewada, UdiyaTola, Adegaon, Bhamdeli and Sitarampeth with our education van. During these visits our team interacted with students and organised lectures and presentations on forest fires. Various documentaries and film shows on wildlife conservation were shown to the students. A total of 212 students attended.

On April 20^th, we organised a nature trail for the students of Zilla Parishad School, Khutwanda. During the nature trail, students spotted various birds and learnt about biodiversity around their village. A total of 28 students participated.

On April 27^th, we organised a walk for students of ZP school, Khutwanda. During the walk, we collected over 1 kilogram of mixed seeds of local trees. These will be used for plantation during the monsoon. A total number of 32 students participated.

Education Programmes:

Employment Cell

We organised 5 self-help group (SHG) meetings and 4 village eco-development committee (VEDC) meetings, focusing on alternative livelihoods which would reduce dependence on the forests. 112 villagers attended these meetings.

In VEDC meetings, we discussed and explained short- and long-term benefits of fodder plantation, cattle stall feeding to reduce grazing pressure on forest areas. We also discussed and encouraged farmers to adopt organic farming. 

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

Details of the programmes are given below:

Our team helped in placing five unemployed youths from Katwal village in jobs as assistant backhoe loader operator in Buldhana district. These youths were selected in February and sent for training in March at Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) training center in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh. 

These youths expressed their satisfaction after being employed in sustainable job and thanked SF team.

Mobile Health Unit:

Team:  Dr. Shailesh Pawde, MHU driver: Mr. Sachin Ingole

6 camps were organised by us in April in which a total of 230 patients got free treatment and medicines.