Activity Update July 2019: Pench-Bor Corridor

Roshan Dhawangale from Telgaon completes hospitality training.
He got a job at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad

Telgaon - Anil Gaikwad at the proposed site
for his welding and fabrication unit

Telgaon - Roshan Gaydhane prepares site for a vermi-compost unit.

Team:

Mandar Pingle - Conservation Officer

Highlights

• One young villager successfully completed hospitality training and got employment
• Identified candidate to set up welding and fabrication unit
• Identified candidate for starting a flour mill unit
• Information regarding various livelihood options given to villagers

Activity

On July 3, Roshan Dhawangale, an unemployed young villager from Telgaon village, successfully completed a two-month training program in hospitality, conducted by Pratham Arora Centre for Education (PACE) at Sillari, Pench Tiger Reserve. Roshan was identified for the training program by Satpuda Foundation in May this year and we assisted him in applying and preparing for the program. 

Upon completion of the program, Roshan has got a job in the prestigious Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad. Roshan will be working with the room service department of Sitara Hotel at Ramoji Film City. He will be earning a monthly salary of Rs 8,000, with benefits including provident fund and medical insurance, along with lodging and food facilities. 

In July, Satpuda Foundation identified a candidate for starting a welding and fabrication unit as part of our alternate livelihoods initiative. Anil Gaikwad, an unemployed young villager from Telgaon, was identified for starting the unit. He is currently helping his brother run a small tea and snacks shop in his village. Anil is interested in starting the unit in his village with assistance from Satpuda Foundation. He has already prepared a small building in which he plans to start the welding and fabrication unit.

In July, we identified a candidate to start a flour mill unit. Dnyaneshwar Sarve, a young villager from Umari village, is currently working as an auto rickshaw driver. He has rented the auto rickshaw and hence it is difficult for him to earn sufficient income. He is planning to start the flour mill unit in his village in order to improve his earnings. 

In July, we gave information about various livelihood options to villagers from Umari, Telgaon, Temburdoh and Lohgad. Livelihood options such as small-scale poultry farming, mushroom cultivation and information on how starting a micro-enterprise can help improve earning potential was explained to the villagers. Information regarding job opportunity as security guards at Pune offered by Checkmate Servicers Pvt Ltd was also given to young villagers.

Activity Update July 2019: Navegaon-Nagzira

Highlights:

Day patrol in Comp. No. 56

Bolunda - Students are briefed about the benefits of conservation

Kurhadi - Teachers and students participate in our plantation drive 

Mangezari - Students plant saplings in our plantation drive

Mangezari - Students pose during our 'Tiger Day' celebration

Mangezari - Students set off on conservation awareness rally
on Global Tiger Day

THE FULL REPORT

Team: 

Mukund Dhurve – Assistant Conservation Officer

Highlights (See Table 1)

• Joined Forest Department staff on foot patrols on 3 occasions
• 5 voluntary work programs to clean area next to hand pumps
• 5 anti-plastic programs 
• Organised programs to dig 5 compost pits 
• Assisted 2 young villagers in joining hospitality training program at PACE Academy, Sillari
• Organised 7 plantation programs – 135 saplings planted
• Organised 2 environment education programs;  320 students present
• Celebrated World Tiger Day - 73 students and EDC members participated

Our team organised 5 community assistance programs on July 14, 16, 17, 21 and 25 to clear areas around hand pumps at Mangezari, Sodlagondi, Chorkhamara, Umarzari and Jindatola. Unemployed young villagers from Mangezari participated in the programs, led by Mukund. 

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 Compartment No. 56 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 Assistant Conservation Officer Mukund Dhurve.

During the month, our team organised 5 anti-plastic programs to clean polythene/plastic litter from villages. The programs were organised on July 14, 16, 17, 21 and 25 at Mangezari, Sodlagondi, Chorkhamara, Umarzari and Jindatola villages respectively. Mukund organised the programs. They were attended by villagers including 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 29 July, we celebrated World Tiger Day at Zilla Parishad Primary School (ZPPS), Mangezari. 73 students, VEDC members and Forest Department staff were present. Addressing the gathering, Mukund gave information about tigers and their habitat, and the need to conserve the big cat.

In July, Hemraj Salam, a marginal farmer from Asalpani, prepared a compost pit through a voluntary work project. Earlier in May we had provided information to farmers about the benefits of preparing compost pits and using organic compost instead of chemical fertilisers. He voluntarily prepared the compost pit on his farm under the guidance of Mukund Dhurve. Similarly, 4 more compost pits were prepared in Asalpani and Bagadband villages.

Education (See Table 2)

There were 9 education programs in July 2019.

Employment Cell Training activities (See Table 3)

In July we helped 2 young villagers attend a hospitality training program organised by Pratham Arora Center for Education (PACE) and funded by Pench Tiger Conservation Foundation at Sillari. 

Activity Update July 2019: Tadoba

Highlights:

Adegaon - Students participate in our plantation drive
 and plant saplings in their school premises

Ashtha - Global Tiger Day 2019 

 Ashtha - Kishor conducts an environment education programme
 in the village school

Ashtha - Global Tiger Day 2019 -
Students learn about tiger habitat and its conservation

Dewada - Students participate in a cleanliness drive 

Junona - Kishor briefs members of the women's SHG
about alternative livelihood options

Katwal - Global Tiger Day 2019 - Students participate
in an awareness rally on tiger conservation

Katwal - Teachers and students participate in our cleanliness drive

Khutwanda - Students observe wetland birds during a nature trail 

Khutwanda - Volunteers plant saplings in our plantation drive

Kudesawli - Awareness meeting with unemployed villagers
in the corridor, on alternative livelihood options 

Mudholi - Students of nature club 'Gaur' learn to identify animals
 through a nature game 

Mudholi - Villagers plant saplings during our plantation drive

THE FULL REPORT

Team: 

Conservation Officer: Mr. Ajay Poddar

Field Assistant: Mr. Kishor Dudhbarai

Highlights of the month: (Table 1)

• 2 livelihood awareness sessions in corridor villages - 58 unemployed young villagers attended
• 2 anti-plastic and bore well cleaning programs to prevent man-animal conflict - 79 villagers participated 
• 4 plantation programs - 840 saplings planted - 52 villagers participated
• 4 environment education programs - 202 students attended 
• 2 Nature club activities/interactive nature games- 53 students participated 
• 5 women’s SHG meetings were organised - 80 members attended 
• 7 VEDC meetings were organised - 128 members attended
• Global Tiger Day 2019 celebration - 170 students participated 

On July 5th and 22nd, we organised cleanliness and anti-plastic programs with villagers of Katwal and Adegaon. Programs were organised in order to sanitise the area around villages, as food litter sometimes leads wildlife to venture into the village and causes human-animal conflict. We collected over 5 kilograms of plastic litter through public participation (Shramdaan). 79 villagers including members of women’s (self-help groups) SHGs, and children, volunteered for these activities. 

On July 10th, 13th, 15th and 20th, we organised plantation drives with villagers of Mudholi, Katwal, Kondegaon and Khutwanda. Villagers planted 840 saplings of native tree species through voluntary work project. 52 villagers participated. 

Education Program (See Table 2)

During July, we visited and organised environment education  programs in Ashtha, Kondegaon, Katwal Mudholi and Khutwanda villages to promote awareness about the importance of biodiversity and conservation. We spoke to the students about nature and taught them about the importance of wildlife through interactive sessions and various nature games. 255 students participated in the programs. 

Students of the Nature club 'Gaur' from Mudholi and 'Wagh' from Kondegaon village participated in interactive nature education games and learnt about rain water harvesting and conservation. 

Events

Global Tiger Day 2019

 On July 29th, Satpuda Foundation celebrated GLOBAL TIGER DAY 2019 in Ashtha and Katwal villages in the buffer area of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve. The goal of Tiger Day is to promote the protection of tigers. In a bid to create greater public awareness about tiger conservation, our team organised several programs and activities with school students and the villagers.

Our team of Ajay Poddar and Kishor Dudhbarai organised class room lectures and PowerPoint presentations to spread the message to conserve forest habitat in order to protect tigers. Our team also organised an awareness rally and nature games. During the rally, students sported tiger masks made by themselves and chanted tiger conservation slogans while marching through their village. Forest Department officials and school teachers were also present on the occasion.

Employment Cell (See Table 3)

We organised 7 Village Eco-Development Committee (VEDC) meetings and 5 self-help group (SHG) meetings, focusing on alternative livelihoods which would reduce dependence on the forests that leads to man-animal conflict and degradation of forests. A total of 208 villagers attended these meetings and shared their thoughts. 

In the SHG meetings, we discussed several livelihood related issues. We also formed groups of interested members who are willing to take up paper-bag making and embroidery. These groups will be provided with relevant training. A total of 80 members attended these meetings.  

In the VEDC meetings, we discussed about plantation to be done in the buffer; and collection and distribution of saplings. We also focused on increasing the usage of solar-powered fencing in farm lands to prevent conflict with wildlife. We also discussed and explained short- and long-term benefits of fodder plantation. We also discussed about increasing man-animal confrontation in and around Moharli and how to prevent this by adopting cattle sheds and stall feeding for their cattle, which sometimes fall prey to medium and large carnivores around the area. A total of 128 villagers attended these meetings. 

We also organised youth empowerment and livelihood awareness sessions in Kudesawli village for unemployed young villagers from corridor villages of the proposed Kanargaon Wildlife Sanctuary.  We discussed various livelihood issues and job schemes that can benefit those forest dwellers. We also formed a social media group to discuss and share thoughts on the topic. 58 unemployed young villagers from Tohagaon, Kanargaon, Bamni and Chiwanda villages attended. The Honorary wildlife warden of Gadchiroli district Mr. Uday Patel and president of the organisation Social Action and Rural Development, Chandrapur (SARD) Mr. Prakash Kamde were also present.

Activity Update July 2019: Pench Maharashtra

Highlights:

Chargaon - Villagers participate in a tree plantation drive

Ghoti - Volunteers prepare a soak pit near a hand pump 

Ghoti Gate - Plantation drive 

Kadbikheda - Dilip conducts an environment education programme
 in the village school

Kadbikheda - Our colleague Dilip gives free note books and pens
 to underprivileged students

 Khapa - School students participate in a Vruksha Dindi programme 

Sawara - Students participate in a conservation awareness rally
on Global Tiger Day

Shiladevi - Villagers learn how to cultivate mushrooms
as part of our alternative livelihood initiative

Shiladevi - Villagers on patrol in the adjoining forest 

Wagholi - Members of women's SHG and farmers
who were trained in mushroom cultivation

THE FULL REPORT

Team: 

Bandu Uikey – Assistant Conservation Officer
Dilip Lanjewar – Community Officer
Balkrishna Bagmare – Community Officer

Highlights: See Table 1

• Organised 2 foot patrols in West Pench Range; 6 villagers participated
• One soak pit prepared through voluntary work project
• Awareness rally and plantation drive organised in Khapa
• 7 plantation programs organised; 890 saplings planted
• Global Tiger Day 2019 celebrated
• 11 nature education programs organised in schools; 344 students attended sessions
• Mushroom cultivation training organised; 12 villagers underwent training
• 4 unemployed young villagers enrolled for hospitality training program
• Assisted two young villagers in getting employment in Nagpur
• One village meet organised to provide information on various agriculture schemes 

On July 14, Balkrishna led a foot patrol in the forest area adjoining Shiladevi village. Forest Guard Mr. Chopde and 3 villagers from Shiladevi took part in the patrol. The team searched for illegal activity like snares, live electric cables, logging or encroachment during the patrol. They did not come across any signs of illegal activities during this patrol. They also searched for signs of wildlife presence in the area so that any conflict could be avoided.

A similar patrol was organised by us on 21 July in the forest area near Suwardhara Lake. 3 villagers and 2 labourers from the Forest Department took part in the patrol. No illegal activity was detected by the team.

On 7 July, Satpuda Foundation organised a training program on mushroom cultivation in Wagholi village. 3 men and 9 women attended the training program. During the program, the participants were taught techniques of oyster mushroom cultivation. Mushroom cultivation is a lucrative livelihood option as it is not cost- and labour-intensive. It also helps solve the farm waste and the stubble burning problem as it uses farm waste as a raw material for mushroom cultivation. Sahadeo Tekam, one of the participants of the training program, has started a mushroom cultivation unit with 100 kg production capacity. Satpuda Foundation assisted him in selecting the location for setting up this unit and also in procuring the required spawn and materials.

A similar training program was organised for 17 villagers from Shiladevi village. Raju Ahake, an unemployed youth, has taken up mushroom cultivation after attending the training program. 

On 20 July, Satpuda Foundation organised a voluntary work project to prepare a soak pit near a community hand pump in Ghoti village. 7 villagers volunteered for the program. They cleared the weeds growing around the hand pump and dug the soak pit. This soak pit will make the spillover water effectively percolate and help recharge groundwater level. This will also help prevent spread of water-borne diseases like malaria during the monsoon season.

On 28 July, Satpuda Foundation organised a voluntary work project to clear plastic trash near Chargaon Zilla Parishad Primary school. 21 students volunteered to clear the trash in and around their school premises. During the monsoon, plastic trash tends to accumulate in 'nallahs' and also ends up being eaten by cattle within the village. The students collected almost 25kg of plastic trash during the drive.

In July, Satpuda Foundation organised seven plantation drives in villages of the buffer area of Pench Tiger Reserve. On 10 July, Dilip organised an event in Jai Seva Adivasi Ashram School in Dahoda village during which 70 students, along with their teachers, planted 200 saplings around the school premises. Similar programs were organised in schools of Khapa, Usripar, Kadbikheda and Sawara villages of the East Pench Range, during which 137 students planted 170 saplings of local tree species. 

We also planted 20 saplings at the Ghoti forest protection hut.

During the plantation drive program in Kadbikheda, Dilip also distributed educational material like notebooks, pens etc to underprivileged students.

A similar plantation drive was organised by the Forest Department in which Balkrishna encouraged 35 villagers of Makardhokda village to participate. The villagers assisted Forest Department staff in planting 500 saplings of local tree species.

On July 29, Satpuda Foundation celebrated ‘Global Tiger Day 2019’ at Zilla Parishad Upper Primary school in Sawara village. 102 students along with 3 teachers took part in an awareness rally organised by us. Students chanted slogans about the importance of tigers in the ecosystem and also the need to help protect tigers and forests for future generations. Dilip organised an interactive session for the students during which he explained the threats to tigers, and what the students can do to help protect tigers and forests.

Education Programs (Details in Table 2)

Balkrishna also celebrated the day with 23 students of Zilla Parishad Primary School, Chargaon by organising an interactive session to explain the relationship between tigers, forests, water, and the survival of all living beings. He engaged them in games to explain these concepts effectively.

On July 30, Dilip provided information about various schemes being implemented by the Agriculture and Livestock Departments of the state government in Ghoti village. Dilip assisted 10 villagers in applying for a subsidy of Rs 10,000/- for adopting vegetable cultivation. 3 villagers applied for a 50 per cent subsidy scheme to set up storage units while 2 villagers applied for the milk cattle distribution scheme.

Employment cell (Details in Table 3)

In July, Dilip helped 4 unemployed young villagers enrol for the hospitality training program being conducted by Pratham Arora Centre for Education (PACE), and sponsored by Pench Tiger Conservation Foundation.

In July, Balkrishna helped Roshan Inmate of Narhar village apply for a vacancy of technician at Bharat Udyog in Hengan MIDC, Nagpur. Roshan successfully got employment and is now earning a salary of Rs 9,000/- per month. Earlier he used to work as a daily wage labourer earning Rs 3,000/- per month.

Balkrishna also helped two young villagers to apply and get employment with METRO Ltd, Nagpur (check Table 3 for details). 

Activity Update June 2019: IUCN Project in the Pench-Bor Corridor

Highlights:

Khapa - Students watching a film on wildlife conservation 

Telkamthi - Mandar briefs students before a wildlife film screening

THE FULL REPORT

Team:

Mandar Pingle – Conservation Officer

Nilesh Telang – Field Assistant

Highlights

• Financial assistance of ₹50,000/- to Self-Help Group in Telgaon
• Employment drive for security guards organised, 40 young villagers attended
• Provided information about hospitality industry training
• Organised 6 school education programs, 380 students present
• Organised one night film show in Telgaon, 45 villagers attended

In June, we provided financial assistance of ₹50,000/- to Durga Mahila Bachat Gat, a women’s Self-Help Group (SHG) from Telgaon to  help develop their paper bag-making micro-enterprise. We had helped the group start the micro-enterprise as part of our livelihoods program last year. The group will be using the funds for procuring raw materials and marketing of finished products.

On June 20, we organised an employment drive for young villagers from the Pench-Bor corridor. Checkmate Services Private Limited, Pune, are hiring young villagers as security guards for employment in Pune. 45 young men from nearby villages registered their names during the program at Gram Panchayat, Telgaon. 

In June, our team provided information about a hospitality training program being organised by Pratham Arora Centre for Education (PACE) at Pench Tiger Reserve, Sillari, in Maharashtra. Earlier in April this year, we had helped 8 young villagers from Telgaon to enrol for the program. The information was provided to young villagers individually as well as through Gram Panchayats.

On June 28, we organised film shows and education programs on wildlife conservation in the Zilla Parishad Primary school, Temburdoh. 40 students, along with their teachers, were present. On the same day, we organised an education program in Mahatma Gandhi High school, Khapa. A Powerpoint presentation on threats to big cats was made. 180 students attended the program.

On June 29, similar programs were organised in Narendra Vidyalay, Telgaon, Lohgad and Lokmanya Tilak Vidyalay, Telkamthi. 230 students attended the programs.

On June 28, we organised a night film show near Gram Panchayat, Telgaon. Films on water conservation and wildlife were shown. 45 villagers attended the program.