Satpuda to take up its works with PM

Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN | Sep 2, 2012, 07.36PM IST NAGPUR: The Satpuda Foundation (SF), a NGO working for tiger conservation in Central India, has decided to take up its various works with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the National Board for Wild Life (NBWL) meeting slated for September 5. ""This is for the first time Vidarbha has got an opportunity to represent country's highest decision-making body on wildlife and forest issues, under the chairmanship of Prime Ministers. It could be possible due to Satpuda Foundation's pathbreaking work in the region,"" remarked Kishor Rithe, president of Satpuda and also NBWL member. Though the routine life in most of the parts of Vidarbha was disrupted due to heavy rains, Satpuda Foundation staff was still moving in the field perceiving its task of tiger conservation as usual. Tribal kids from Sillari and Kadbikheda villages in the buffer of Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) participated in 'seed sowing' drive during the monsoon. Around 35 students participated in the activity and sowed 50 seeds of fruit trees. Satpuda provided an opportunity to these kids by arranging a massive plantation programme in buffer villages. Conservation officer Anoop Awasthi, Bandu Uikey and Dilip Lanjewar played a vital role. Rithe said in view of the new government policy to hand over various activities to eco-development committees (EDCs), Satpuda Foundation is assisting buffer villages like Tuiyapaar, Wanera, Pipariya, Usaripar, Sawara and Wagholi around Pench to prepare village micro-plans. At Wanera the social survey was conducted after discussing village micro plans and eco-development and joint forest management (JFM) programme. At Narhar, the meeting was held with village EDC members about giving up use of firewood and grazing in the forests. Similar meetings were conducted in Kolitmara, Wagholi, Pipariya and Usripar. Rithe informed the Foundation teams arranged 'shramdaan' programmes at Salai and Pipariya. The NGO's staff voluntarily joined forest department officials in anti-poaching drives around Pench despite rains. Meanwhile, Satpuda has started free health check-up camps for remote villages. In four medical camps, 144 patients from Khapa, Wagholi, Kirangisarra and Ghoti were treated. Besides, mobile health units were started at Kirangisara and Ghoti villages. The NGO has started a special education van for the past two years. Regular film shows on wildlife are organised for villagers. The SF also arranged environment education programmes in 12 schools in Pench buffer villages like Narhar, Kolitmara, Ghatpendhari, Salai, Piparia, Khapa, Kadbikheda, Usaripar, Sillari, Sawara,Phulzari and Ghoti. ""We have also provided employment to three youths Kabirdas Gajbhiye and Mukunda Lanjewar, both from Ghoti and Keshav Gajbhiye from Pipariya. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Satpuda-to-take-up-its-works-with-PM/articleshow/16214368.cms