Activity Update February 2019: Melghat-Yawal Corridor

Highlights:

Nagartas - Our team gives details to villagers
about the government scheme to purchase vehicles
for commercial passenger use

Bhingara - Our colleague Kushagra guides school children on nature trail

Bhingara - Our team discusses livelihood issues with SHG members

Pingali - Our colleague Kushagra conducts
an environment education programme in the village school

Pingali - Our team gives details of government schemes to villagers

 THE FULL REPORT

Team: Kushagra Gupta - Conservation Officer

Aniruddha Kawishwar - Assistant Conservation Officer

Highlights

·      Organised paper bag training for one women’s Self Help Group (SHG); 17 women trained

·      Organised meetings with two SHGs to provide information on government schemes

·      Organised one meeting with villagers of Pingali to provide information on livelihood options; 11 villagers present

• Four nature education programs at Zari, Pingali & Bhingara with total 95 students attending
• One nature trail and bird-watching session arranged in Bhingara; 31 students participated

Activities

On 26 February, Kushagra and Aniruddha organised a meeting with 27 members of Jai Maa Durga women’s SHG from Bhingara village. During this meeting, Kushagra and Aniruddha provided information regarding various government schemes aiming to provide livelihood assistance to women. They also suggested ideas on starting micro enterprises like making paper bags and mushroom cultivation.

Kushagra explained that following a ban on the use of plastic bags in Maharashtra state, paper bags are in demand in the market and this will provide a readymade market for their bags. Kushagra explained that these types of micro enterprises need very little startup capital although the returns are good.

Three similar meetings were organised during the month, details of which are given in the table above.

Nature Education and Awareness programs

On 19 February, Satpuda Foundation organised a film show and classroom awareness program for students of Pingali village. During the session, Kushagra and Aniruddha showed a film to sensitise students about wildlife conservation issues. 24 students attended the session.

They also organised similar programs for students of Zari village on February 01 and 18.

Satpuda Foundation also arranged a nature trail and bird watching session for students of Bhingara village. 31 students participated in the nature trail during which Kushagra taught them to identify various birds like black drongo, shrikes, bulbuls, black winged kite etc. He also provided information on their eating habits, habitat requirements and ecological importance.