October Team: Amit Awasthi – Conservation Officer
Sampatlal Dhurve – Field assistant
Highlights
- Anti-plastic programmes in 3 schools
- Community assistance – cleaning of area next to well at Patpara and clearing of grass and weeds from path in Chapri village
- Community assistance – repair of hand pump at Government Middle School, Patpara
- 11 classroom visits in village schools to deliver lectures on nature and wildlife conservation, attended by 389 students
- 8 film shows on nature and wildlife conservation, attended by 618 people
- 3 unemployed youths assisted in getting jobs locally
- Distributed vegetable seeds to 11 villagers from 7 villages, as part of our livelihood assistance programme
Conservation work:
During the month, our team also organised students of 3 village schools in anti-plastic programmes. Our team first explained the harmful effects of plastic/polythene on the environment and then led the children in programmes through their respective villages. Plastic litter was collected and buried in pits. Details of the villages and dates are given in the table above.
On October 18, Amit Awasthi and Sampathlal Dhurve led a team of 4 village youths and 6 women in a programme to clean an internal road in Chapri. Grass and weeds were removed from the sides of the road. The path had become difficult to use for both vehicles and humans.
On October 21, Amit and Sampathlal led a team of 16 students from GMS, Patpara in a shramdhaan to clean the surroundings next to a well in the village. The area had become infested with weeds and wild growth.
During the shramdhaan at GMS, Patpara, the teacher had told Amit that the hand pump in the school premises was not working properly and asked him to help in getting it repaired. The next day, Amit took the concerned Government mechanic/plumber from Mocha to Patpara and arranged for the repair of the pump.
Education
Our team visited 11 schools to talk to students about wildlife and nature conservation.
Employment Cell
Three youths were placed in local jobs during the month.
In September, our team had organised a number of meetings to explain to villagers how they could undertake vegetable farming on a commercial scale as there was ready demand for fresh vegetables from resorts around Kanha. In October, we followed up on this programme by distributing vegetable seeds to 11 villagers from seven villages as a pilot project. We will monitor the progress of the villagers and assist them as required. The vegetables included chilly, cauliflower, spinach.
Education van programme
There were 8 film shows in October.
November
Highlights:
- Anti-plastic programmes in 2 schools
- Two shramdhaans for water conservation – one water body created and one soak pit dug
- 11 classroom visits in village schools to deliver lectures on nature and wildlife conservation, attended by 386 students
- 8 film shows on nature and wildlife conservation, attended by 598 people
- 3 unemployed youths assisted in getting jobs locally
- Villagers, to whom we had distributed vegetable seeds last month, have started to earn money from sales of vegetables
Conservation work: 
During the month, our team organised students of 2 village schools to participate in anti-plastic programmes. Our team first explained the harmful effects of plastic/polythene on the environment and then led the children in programmes through their respective villages. Plastic litter was collected and buried in pits. Details of the villages and dates are given in the table above.
On November 10, Amit Awasthi and Sampathlal Dhurve led a team of 13 villagers in a programme to create a water body at Patpara on the outskirts of the village next to the jungle. The participants worked to erect a mud wall on a slope down which water was flowing to create a lake which will retain the water. The resultant water body will help recharge the water table in the surrounding area and will also provide drinking water to wildlife. Villagers spot tigers intermittently in the area while gaur and spotted deer are seen more regularly.
On November 15, Amit and Sampath led a team of 6 youths from Bhagpur village in a shramdhaan to clean the surroundings next to a well in the village. The area had become infested with weeds and wild growth. The team also dug a soak pit to take the spillover water.
Education
Our team visited 11 schools to talk to students about wildlife and nature conservation.
Employment Cell
Three youths were placed in local jobs during the month.
In September, our team had organised a number of meetings to explain to villagers how they could undertake vegetable farming on a commercial scale as there was ready demand for fresh vegetables from resorts around Kanha.
In October, we followed up on this programme by distributing vegetable seeds to 11 villagers from seven villages as a pilot project. We will monitor the progress of the villagers and assist them as required. The vegetables included chilly, cauliflower, spinach.
Some of the villagers have started earning from this programme. One villager, Jaisingh of Patpara, earned Rs 125 per week through November through vegetable sales. Others are earning smaller amounts.
Education Van programme:
There were 8 film shows in November.
