Sunday, December 2, 2018

Activity Update October 2018: Pench Maharashtra

Highlights:

Awleghat students show their paintings of wildlife, done during
Wildlife Week

Field Assistant Balkrishna leads Chargaon children on a conservation
rally
Volunteers repairing a check dam with our Field Assistant Balkrishna

Wildlife film screening at Dhaulapur

Volunteers after completing a waterhole near Khapa

Cattle vaccination program at Kirangisarra, during Wildlife Week

Our Education Officer Mandar briefing students on a nature trail
in Pipariya

Field Assistant Balkrishna leads volunteers on a forest patrol

Sawara children learning computer skills

Dr Bhure at our special eye camp organised with assistance from
Yogiraj Hospital 

Plastic litter clean-up drive in Shiladevi

The Forest Department distributing books during
our career guidance workshop at Suwardhara

First aid for an injured child at our health camp at Usripar











































































































































































































THE FULL REPORT

Team: Abhijit Dutta – Assistant Director (Conservation)
Bandu Uikey – Conservation Officer
            Dilip Lanjewar, Balkrishna Bagmare – Community Officers

Highlights
·      Wildlife week 2018 celebrated in 24 villages - 572 participants
·      One ‘Voluntary work project’ for check-dam construction
·      One ‘Voluntary work project’ for waterhole construction
·      Cattle vaccination program at Kirangisarra; 44 cattle were vaccinated
·      Awareness program on human-wildlife conflict at Kadbikheda and Govt. Resolution (GR) reading on crop damage compensation
·      Eleven awareness meetings on human-snake incidents along with survey
·      Awareness program on micro-plan preparation under Jan Van Yojna & its implementation
·      Thirteen school education programs conducted, 299 students participated
·      Six Education van film show programs conducted, 212 students participated
·      Three livelihood meetings on various trades with Women Self Help Group (SHG) members and young villagers
·      Six free medical camps, 346 patients treated, which included 156 patients treated during the special eye-camp conducted for villagers of Sawara, Usripar & Kadbikheda
·      One research project on snakes underway


Conservation Action and Awareness


















On October 6, a check dam was constructed near Awaleghat by Balkrishna and volunteers from the village to ensure that water is available for nearby agricultural fields and for livestock in the village throughout the year. The check dam will also be a water source for nocturnal wildlife in the region.

On October 24, Dilip and a team of villagers constructed a waterhole near Khapa village. Wild animals traverse large distances for water after the monsoon season due to water scarcity. The construction of such waterholes ensures water is available on the spot throughout the year for the animals.

On October 14, Balkrishna led a team of three Village Eco-development Committee (VEDC) members from Saleghat village on a foot patrol in the forest near their village. The team looked out for signs of illegal tree felling or poaching during the patrol. No such illegal activities were detected.

Balkrishna joined the Forest Department staff on a foot patrol in the Kanhadevi beat on October 15.

On October 24, Dilip led a team of five VEDC members from Khapa village on a foot patrol in the forest near their village.

These community-based patrols are supplemental to the regular patrols being done by the Forest Department.

On October 2, Balkrishna organised a plastic litter collection drive in Shiladevi on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.

During one voluntary work project, Balkrishna explained the hazards of plastic waste for both environment and human health.

Balkrishna explained to the students that plastic and non-degradable waste was causing irreparable damage to the ecosystem and adversely affecting birds and other life forms. He also told them that the waste was equally harmful to people.

On October 12, Dilip organised an awareness program on snakes in Khapa village, where there was a fatality due to snakebite recently.

He explained the importance of cleanliness and keeping rodents out of the house to keep snakes out. He also explained how to differentiate between venomous and non-venomous snakes and what must be done in case of a snakebite.

Later, Abhijit carried out a survey on human-snake interaction. Similar exercises were carried out by Dilip and Abhijit in eleven buffer zone villages in October.

On October 3, Dilip conducted an awareness program on Human-Wildlife Conflict mitigation strategies in Kadbikheda where he read out the Government Resolution regarding crop damage compensation claim process.

He encouraged villagers to take up organic farming and suggested they adopt newer and scientific ways to ward off wild animals from their fields.

On October 7, Dilip organised a cattle vaccination program in Kirangi Sarra village where 44 cattle were vaccinated.

Kirangi Sarra lies inside the core area and, as such, it becomes extremely important to carry out such vaccination drives so as to prevent spreading of any disease like foot and mouth disease from cattle to wild animals, as the cattle sometimes stray into the forest while grazing and may use the same water source for drinking as the wild animals.

The wild animals may also contract diseases if they stray into the village and get in contact with the cattle.

On October 22, Dilip organised a meeting in Ghoti to promote awareness about the formation process and benefits of a village eco-development committee (VEDC).

Dilip explained about the microplan for the VEDC to be formed under Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Jan-Van Yojna. He encouraged the villagers to include livestock management practices and organic farming in the microplan.

A conservation awareness rally was carried out by Dilip in Ghoti on October 1. Participants raised slogans on wildlife conservation and the importance of saving tigers and other wild animals.

A similar program was organised by Balkrishna in Chargaon on October 1.

Dilip conducted a nature trail program for school children of Sawara on October 18.
He explained to the students about the importance of conserving local flora and fauna.

Environment Education

In October, a total of 13 school education programs were conducted by Dilip and Balkrishna in which students were given lectures on man-animal conflict, biodiversity conservation, climate change and other issues related to nature conservation. 

A total of 299 students attended these programs.

School Education Programs













IT Education Program

Satpuda Foundation has donated desktops as well as laptops to the Zilla Parishad School in Sawara village and has been conducting IT education program for the students free of cost since 2013. Basic computer skills are taught to the students to make them feel comfortable with the technology and improve their IT skills. Sita Uikey, a resident of Sawara village works on an honorarium basis for Satpuda Foundation to impart IT education to students. Four such classes were held in October in ZP School, Sawara.

Education Van Program

The education van screened six movies on nature and wildlife conservation in October. Four school programs and two village night shows were conducted in which the story about the iconic Teliya sisters (Tigers of Tadoba) was screened.

A total of 212 students and villagers attended these programs.









During Wildlife Week 2018, students were encouraged to participate in various activities like drawing contest, quiz competition and a Rangoli competition.

The Forest Department asked for our assistance in conducting one-day nature camps for kids which included jungle safari.

Two such camps were held in which Dilip, Balkrishna and Mandar acted as resource persons for Ashram school students of Dahoda and Nimtola.


Special programs during the Wildlife week 2018
















Employment Cell

On October 2, Dilip conducted a meeting with the women of Sawara village to encourage them to undertake activities like stitching, paper and cloth bag making through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

On October 3, Balkrishna mobilised young villagers to attend Forest Department’s career guidance workshop in Suwardhara where Range Forest Officer of Nagalwadi Range, Sachin Jadhav gave guidance to the village young villagers on career path selection and career growth and development. He later distributed books on various competitive examinations like the MPSC and UPSC.

Balkrishna again mobilised young villagers from Suwardhara on October 5 for Forest Department’s skill development workshop and encouraged the young villagers to register for various livelihood programs funded by the Pench Tiger Conservation Foundation.


Livelihood activities & meetings:








Mobile Health Service (MHS)

There were 6 free medical camps held in October in which 346 patients were treated.
A special eye camp was held for villagers of Sawara, Usripar & Kadbikheda. Dr. Bhure from Yogiraj Hospital, Ramtek, helped treat 156 patients out of which 80 were detected with bad eyesight and were given spectacles free of cost.

26 patients were detected with cataract and were later called to Ramtek for further treatment.



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