Activity Update February 2019: Navegaon-Nagzira

Highlights:

 Villagers on anti-poaching patrol

Asalpani - Dr. Khode examines a patient at our free medical camp

Bodalkasa - Volunteers clean area around a hand pump 

Kurhadi - Wildlife film screening for students of G.E.S. Girl's High School 

Mendha - Students of village school visit a wetland
as part of our environment education programme

THE FULL REPORT

Team:

Mukund Dhurve         - Asst.  Conservation Officer

Jivraj Salam                 - Field assistant

Highlights

·      Joined Forest Department staff on patrols on 5 occasions

·      4 community assistance voluntary work programs to clean area next to hand pumps

·      3 programs to clean waterholes

·      4 anti-plastic programs

·      Organised 4 environment education programs attended by 506 students 

·      Organised 6 film shows – attended by 580 people

·      Organised 6 medical camps in which 135 patients got free treatment

·      Organised meeting with SHGs members at Balapur

·      5 youth shortlisted and sent for hospitality training program at PACE Sillari funded by Pench Tiger Conservation Foundation

·      Celebrated World Wetland Day at Ashram School, Mendha

·      Celebrated Global Recycling Day at Adilok High School, Bolunda

Conservation  

Our team organised 4 community assistance programs on February 8, 9, 13 and 26 to clear areas around hand pumps at Sodlagondi, Bodalkasa, Sodlagondi and Mangezari. Unemployed young villagers from Mangezari participated in all the programs, 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 the proliferation of mosquitoes and other 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 Compartment No. 113 and 114 and on the paths linking Mangezari to Kodebarra 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 4 anti-plastic programs to clean polythene/plastic litter from villages. The programs were organised on February 8, 9, 13 and 26 at Sodlagondi, Bodalkasa, Sodlagondi 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.

Environment Education

There were 4 programs in February.

On February 2, we celebrated World Wetland Day with students of Ashram School, Mendha. We took a team of 52 students and 3 teachers to Mendha Lake and spoke to them about wetlands, the importance of wetlands and the need to conserve them. During the program, we helped the participants spot and identify local and migratory birds like egret, mynah, dove, drongo, graylag goose, common coot, etc.

On February 18, we celebrated Global Recycling Day with a program at Adilok High School, Bolunda in which 73 students and 3 teachers were present. Our team spoke to the gathering about the need for conservation and the need to reduce wasteful consumption, and to reuse and recycle materials.

  

Education Van

During the month, we organised 6 film shows on nature and wildlife conservation.

Employment Cell Training activities

During the month, 5 young villagers from Kodelohara were identified and selected for a training program in skills related to the hospitality industry. The program is conducted by Pratham Arora Centre for Education (PACE) at Sillari and is funded by Pench Tiger Conservation Foundation. Details of the villagers are given below.

Mobile Health Service (MHS)

There were 6 health camps in February.