"Sahab Hum mar jayenge"

After coming back to Harisal I along with Rohan Mukerjee (MBA intern)and Saurabh Shanu ( ICFAI intern )went for Socio-Economic survey in the nearby villages.Survey include general information about family, agriculture,other sources of income etc.

"Taraubanda" was the first one. A big village by Melghat standards with population of around 1200. It was located on a plateau. It has water pipe line and electricity line though only nine houses had electricity connection.

While doing survey Rohan and me inquired villagers about Resettlement scheme undertaken by Govt to relocate these villages in Plains under Project Tiger. We were quite taken aback when we asked a villager What does he feel about reservation and would he like to get resettled? And he said “ Sahab Hum mar jayenge”. It set both of us thinking. These villagers has spent their whole lives there and now we want to resettle them. They had been and are living in perfect harmony with jungles. The animals in the jungles had been sharing space with these villagers. But then there is other side which concerns with protecting tigers and other wild animals. There are very few of them in Natural Environment and there is urgent need to protect them before even they become victim of human greed.

( above- with villagers in Tarubanda village )



Next i want to “Chikli" . There were same sentiments expressed by people. A woman even asked me to get out of village thinking that i was a government official.

Doing door to door surveys in these villages provided me new insight into problems these people were facing. People don’t have ration card. Irregularities in NREGA. People getting work only for 15-30 days instead of 100. Also work was provided in rainy season when they wee busy with agricultural activities and not in summers. Electricity is a luxury there which not many people can afford. No reimbursement for crop loss which is as high as 50% in many cases. And many more...

While returning to Harisal we saw a herd of around 30 deer. But ran away as soon as they saw us. These surveys left many question unanswered. More about that later...

(below- rohan taking a shot )

Duda

If you're wondering what "Duda" means, it's this charming little bird, the Forest Owlet. Duda is its name in the language of the Korkus, a tribe that live in Melghat Tiger Reserve and elsewhere in the Satpudas.

For more than a century the Forest Owlet was thought to be extinct. But in 1997 it was rediscovered in Melghat by three Americans, including the famous ornithologist Pamela Rasmussen. Melghat is one of the most important habitats for this unique, highly endangered species.



When Nature Conservation Society of Amravati (NCSA) started the nature education programme in 2005, they cast around for a suitable name for the van that was going to be the hub of the activity. "Duda" was the name chosen. It was a friendly and familiar word among the Korkus, and the van was after all going to spread a positive message about the Forest Owlet and other endangered creatures.



It was a perfect choice of name. "Duda gadi" (Duda car) proved to be a great hit with the Korku kids, and its regular visits are an eagerly anticipated event in the villages of Melghat.

The Education team are in the field for a fortnight at a time, travelling from village to village with the programme.

Children and adults are taken for nature walks around their village, and educated about the many treasures there. They are taken for forest safaris in the Duda Gadi. They play games specially designed for these workshops, including one called "Web of Life" (picture below). In the evening when the adults are free, they are shown films about wildlife and nature and its protection.





Conservation activities are included in the education programme. Below: a tree plantation drive.



And coming back to the original Duda, the Forest Owlet itself...you can read more about this bird in an article by Kishor Rithe (President, SF) in our website. To see our site, click on the logo on the top right, or else scroll down to "Links" below. Select "Articles" in the site and you'll find the one on this owlet.

The education programme pictures were sent by Vishal Bansod for this blog. I borrowed the picture of the Forest Owlet from our website.

Long road ahead

The tiger Bhola pads along a path in Kanha National Park. He is one of the 1300 - 1500 Royal Bengal Tigers left in India, according to the Wildlife Institute of India's 2007 census. That's less than half the number previously estimated.

Bhola means "innocent." And that's what the tiger is, an innocent victim of human greed and error. Only we humans can save him - if we really, sincerely care enough. This is our last chance.

This picture was taken by Satpuda Foundation President, Kishor Rithe.