Activity Update October 2015: Satpura Tiger Reserve

Team: Ashfaq Aarbi – Conservation Officer

            Hameed Khan – Field assistant                                                        

Highlights

·      6 water conservation voluntary work projects during the month – built 2 check dams, 4 soak pits dug

·      10 awareness programmes on vermi-compost

·      7 awareness programmes on Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan.

·      Classroom visits to 14 schools as part of our environment education program – attended by 564 students

·      2 films shows on wildlife and nature conservation- attended by 85 children

·      Organized lantana training programme at Almod

·      Medical camps in 6 villages - 129 patients treated

·      Visit to check on status of 6 villages which have already been relocated

·      Organized village meeting for livelihood training in relocated village

·    Participated on one-day sensitization programme organized by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau

·      Celebration of Wildlife Week

Conservation

During October, we organized 6 programmes related to water conservation. 

On October 9, we organized a programme to build a check dam on a stream around 2 km from Matkuli village. The site is known as Bindakheda nallah. A team comprising of 10 adult villagers, 24 students from Government Higher Secondary School, Matkuli and our field assistant Hameed built the dam. The resultant water body will benefit domestic livestock in the day time and wildlife at nights. Spotted deer, monkeys and leopards are seen in the area. Photos below.

On October 25, we organized a programme to build a check dam on a stream around 3 km from Matkuli village. The site is known as Maili Nallah. A team comprising of 2 teachers, 26 students from Saraswati Shishu Mandeer, Matkuli, Hameed and Ashfaq built the dam. The resultant water body will benefit domestic livestock in the day time and wildlife at nights. Spotted deer, monkeys and leopards are spotted in the area. Photos below.

On October 11, we organized a program to dig a soak pit at the Government Primary School (GPS), Pisuwa. A team comprising of 1 teacher, 22 students and Smt. Laxmi Yadav (Sarpanch, Pisuwa) joined hands with Hameed in digging the pit, which will take spillover water from a hand pump on the school premises. The pit will help to recharge the water table around the hand pump.

Similar programmes were organized at Mehandikheda, Tekapar and Chillod on October 13, 16 and 23.

Education 

During the month, our team organized 14 lectures to educate students about nature and wildlife conservation.

Education Van

During October, our team organized 2 film shows on nature and wildlife conservation.

Film screening at Mehandikheda

Employment Cell

Training programme

Satpura Tiger Reserve, Hoshangabad organized a programme to train villagers to make products from lantana such as furniture and artifacts. They invited us to send 25 candidates from villages in our area of operations to be trained as carpenters. We identified 25 villagers from Almod village and sent them for the 15-day programme, which started on July 11 and ran till July 15. The programme was halted after five days due to heavy rains and resumed after the monsoon, running from October 14 to 23. The entire cost of the programme was borne by Satpura Tiger Reserve. Photos below.

During the month, we helped 28 villagers apply for loans from Central Bank of India, Pipariya. All applications were approved, with a cash element of 20,000 rupees and a subsidy from the State Government. The loans will be used by the borrowers to develop their business of making furniture from lantana. The loans were sanctioned under the Mukhayamantri Aarthik Kalyan Yojana.

Mobile Health Service (MHS)

Satpuda Foundation organizes medical camps at which villagers get free treatment and medicines. These camps, whose schedule is set in conjunction with the management of the Tiger Reserve, are run by the Mobile Health Service (MHS) of Satpuda Foundation.

There were health camps in 6 villages in October.

Health camp at Matkuli

Health camp at Almod

Relocated villages

Ashfaq and Hameed Khan visited the relocated villages of Sonpur, Raikheda, Mongra, Jamandhonga, Dhargaon, and Nankot during October to follow up on the status of the relocated villagers.

The main issues raised by the villagers related to lack of employment, and poor approach road. Shri A.K. Mishra, Dep. Director, STR has asked Satpuda Foundation to focus on youths from relocated villages in our livelihood activities.

In October, we completed a survey of unemployed villagers in the relocated villages of Raikheda, Jamandhonga, Nankot, Nandner, Sonpur, and Parraspani and prepared a proposal for livelihood training. STR management will approach the concerned government agencies to implement livelihood training programmes under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).

Meeting on livelihood options at Raikheda

Workshop

On October 10, Satpuda Foundation participated in a one-day sensitization programme for fringe villages of Satpuda Tiger Reserve. The programme, held at Eco Centre, Matkuli, was organized by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Central Region, and Jabalpur and focused on the role of villagers in prevention of wildlife crime, with emphasis on the following:

1.     Information on movement of poachers/outsiders may be passed on to the local forest or police authority

2.     Suspicious persons entering the forest/ fringe villagers

3.     Gathering of suspected persons/ outsiders

4.     Information on entry of poachers inside the park

5.     Information on possession of gun/ ammunition

6.     Information on stray animals

7.     Location of poacher’s hideout

8.     Intelligence from open source

9.     Public education and awareness

1.     Participatory management

Ashfaq made a presentation on Satpuda Foundation’s activities in Satpura Tiger Reserve buffer area. This programme was attended by the President, Zilla Panchayat, Chhindwara; President, Janpad Panchayat, Tamiya; Smt. Archana Sahu, President, Janpad Panchayat Pipariya; Shri Manoharlal Patel, member Zilla Panchayat, Hoshangabad; Mohan Yadav Assistant Director and all Range Forest Officers. All members of Janpad Panchayat, all the Sarpanches of Gram Panchayats and all members of Gram Panchayats in Pachmarhi Range of Satpura Tiger Reserve also attended. 

Matkuli: Presentation on wildlife crime and its prevention

Wildlife Week Celebrations

During the first week of October, our team organized a series of events across both the Pachmarhi and Denwa clusters to celebrate Wildlife Week.

Activity Update October 2015: Pench Madhya Pradesh

Team: Anoop Awasthi – Assistant Director

            Niranjan Hinge, Kamlesh Pawar – Field Assistants

 

Highlights

·      One voluntary work programme to construct a soak pit at Chirrewani

·      One voluntary work programme to build check dam at Satosha

·      Organized anti-plastic drives in Khamrith and Teliya under Swach Bharat Abhiyaan

·      Hand Wash Day programme at Tuyepani village under Swach Bharat Abhiyaan

·      Organized farmers’ meeting at Mohgaon village

·      Celebrated Wild Life Week in Tuyepani, Chirrewani, Khamarpani, Dewri, Kundai, Turia, Khamba, Ambadi, Teliya, Satosha, Aamajhari, Khamrith, Durgapur, Potiya villages

·      15  nature trails for school children of Turia, Khamba, Ambadi, Teliya, Satosha, Jamuntola, Khamrith, Aamajhari, Durgapur, Kohoka villages -- attended by 55 students

·      17  environmental education programs – attended by 406 students

·      10  film shows on nature and environment – attended by  686 students

·      Meeting of women’s SHG members -- capacity building

·      6 medical camps at which 212  patients were treated

Conservation 

PENCH MADHYA PRADESH (Khamarpani cluster)

PENCH MADHYA PRADESH (Turia cluster)

On October 16, Kamlesh joined hands with students of Chirrewani Government Primary and Middle schools to dig a soak pit next to a hand pump on the school campus. He explained to the students how such soak pits help recharge water table. Photos below.

On October 15, a cleanliness drive was organized on the school campus of Tuyepani village. 60 children participated in the program. The drive aimed to teach children the importance of cleaning their hands and also sought to spread awareness among the students about personal hygiene. Students were also told about the impact of plastic on the environment. Photo below.

On October 31, Niranjan gathered a team of 5 villagers of Satosha and built a stop dam over a stream flowing along the village boundary about 500 meters from the National Park. The resultant water body will benefit domestic and wild animals. Deer, wild boar and jackals are regularly spotted in this area. Photo below.

On October 1, a cleanliness drive was organized in the school at Turia village. 103 children participated in the program. The drive’s motive was to clean school campus and spread awareness about public cleanliness among the students. The impact of plastic on the environment was also explained to the students. Similar programmes were organized at Khamrith on Oct 26 and on Oct 28 at Teliya. Photos below.

In October, 15 nature trails were organized by Niranjan for the children of Turia, Khamba, Jamuntola Ambadi, Satosha, Aamajhari, Khamrith, Durgapur, Kohoka, villages. On the trails, he explained to them about the various plants and common medicinal uses of those plants. He also identified birds along the trails and explained their role in nature. Photos below: trail near Kohoka lake.

On October 14, our Assistant Director Anoop Awasthi organized a meeting of farmers at Mohgaon at which he explained to them the benefits of collective action. Photo below: Anoop discusses the benefits of forming a farmers' club; Mohgaon. 

On October 28, we organized a meeting at Turia for the members of Shrusti Self Help Group (SHG). In this meeting, 7 women participated and decided to start a service to provide meals for tourists and drivers of tourist vehicles. Satpuda Foundation plans to motivate and guide the group in their venture. The SHG already assists us in conservation activities at the village level. Our team will also assist them in taking up other alternative livelihoods which will reduce pressure on forests.

Environmental Education Programme

Our team conducted 17 environment education programmes in classrooms during October.   

Education Van Programme

There were 10 film shows on nature and wildlife conservation during October.

Film screening at Mohgaon

Film screening at Tuyepani

Mobile Health Unit (MHU)

We organized 6 medical camps in October, in which 212 patients were treated.

Abhishek Shambhulal Uikey, a 13-year old resident of Tuyepani village was suffering from itching and skin infection in his private parts. He was too shy to discuss his problem with medical staff but once we got to know of his problem from other villagers, we counselled him and, after counselling, he approached Dr. Abhishek Pathak at one of our free camps. Following treatment, he is now all right and to express his gratitude, he is now supporting us in our conservation programmes.

Rajni Sukhdas Inwate, a 30-year old resident of Tuyepani, was suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea. She decided to go to Khamarpani, 10 km from her village, for treatment. It so happened that our ambulance came to Tuyepani at this time for our routine camp. She came to Dr. Abhishek Pathak for treatment. Dr Pathak examined her and prescribed medicines to her. After the camp, our field assistant Kamlesh Pawar followed up to ensure she took her medication at the right time and in proper doses. She is now fit again thanks to our treatment, medicines and follow-up. Rajni thanked Satpuda Foundation for the assistance and committed support to our conservation work.

Shakeela Gyarsu Kokode, a 31-year old resident of Chirrewani was suffering from sores in her hand, along with swelling due to which she was unable to do any work. Dr. Abhishek Pathak examined the patient and prescribed medicines to her. After regularly follow-up by our field assistant, she has been cured of her problem.  She has expressed her thanks to Satpuda Foundation and committed to support us in our conservation work.