Activity Update September 2018: Navegaon-Nagzira

Highlights:

Our volunteers on forest patrol

Our Field Assistant Jivraj and volunteers clean the area around a handpump
in Balapur

Dr Zanzal examines a patient at our free health camp at Kodebarra

Fish being introduced into a lake, Kodebarra. Sustainable fishing
will increase the income of villagers and reduce their forest dependence.

Conservation Officer Mukund explaining the ozone layer to students
on World Ozone Day

Students watching a wildlife film at Wadegaon

THE FULL REPORT

Team:

Mukund Dhurve         - Asst.  Conservation Officer

Jivraj Salam                 - Field assistant

Surajlal Tekam            - Field assistant                                                                            

Highlights

·      Joined Forest Department staff on patrols on 6 occasions

·      6 community assistance voluntary work projects to clean area next to hand pumps

·      6 anti-plastic programs

·      Environment education programs in 6 schools

·      Organised 6 film shows

·      Organised 6 medical camps in which 174 patients got free treatment

·      Assisted Government agencies in introducing fish seeds in 2 places

·       Organised villagers’ meeting with Agriculture Officer at Balapur

·      Celebrated International Day for preservation of Ozone layer at Kuradi School

·      Organised meeting with SHG members at Mangezari

·      Identified 8 young villagers who have been sent to be trained in skills related to the hospitality industry – training funded by Forest Department 

·      Celebrated World Tourism Day at Mangezari

Conservation  

Our team organised 6 community assistance programs on September 1, 2, 10, 11, 16, and 24 to clear areas around hand pumps at Chorkhamara, Sodlagondi, Umarzari, Thadezari, Balapur and Mangezari. Unemployed young villagers from Mangezari participated in all the programs which were led by Mukund and Jivraj. Details of the programs are given in the table above.

Water had spilled over while people drew from the hand pumps and had stagnated, leading to proliferation of mosquitoes and insects. Our teams cleared the area, removing scum and organic growth and dug canals to drain away the water.

Our team joined the Forest Department in day and night patrols in Comp. No. 109, Comp. No.114 and on the paths/roads linking Mangezari to Asalpani, Mangezari to Kodebarra, Mangezari to Govindtola, and Mangezari to Jindatola. Besides our staff, volunteers from a youth club at Mangezari also joined in the patrols.

The youth club was set up with our assistance and is mentored by our Conservation Officer Mukund Dhurve.    

During the month, our team organised 6 anti-plastic programs to clean polythene/plastic litter from villages. The programs were organised on September, 1, 2, 10, 11, 16 and 24 at Chorkhamara, Sodlagondi, Umarzari, Thadezari, Balapur and Mangezari villages respectively.

Mukund and Jivraj organised the programs which were attended by villagers and village eco-development committee (VEDC) members. The plastic litter has been kept in our Mangezari office and will be sent to Tiroda for recycling.

On September 5, we assisted Government agencies in introducing fish seeds in the lake of Mangezari and Jindatola with the help of VEDC members.

On September 17, we celebrated International Day for Preservation of Ozone layer at G.E.S. Girls’ High School, Kuradi.  116 students were present.

On September 21, we organised a meeting at Balapur with Agriculture Officer Mr. Shivankar. The program was organised to give information to the villagers about different government-funded schemes for agriculture. A total of 83 villagers attended the meeting.

On September 26, we organised a program to celebrate World Tourism Day. Villagers, VEDC members, our volunteers and Forest Department staff attended the program and later participate in a cleanliness drive to mark the occasion.

Environment Education

There were 5 environment education programs in September.

  

Education van

There were 5 film shows during September.

Employment Cell Training activities

We identified 9 young villagers from villages in our area of operations and arranged to have them sent to a training program run by the Pratham Arora Centre for Education (PACE) at Sillari, Pench Tiger Reserve. The program is funded by Pench Tiger Conservation Foundation and aims to equip trainees with skills relevant to the hospitality industry.

Mobiles Health Service (MHS)

There were 6 health camps in September.