Wildlife NGO helps 1,000 tribals around tiger reserves get jobs
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NAGPUR: Satpuda Foundation, an Amravati-based NGO working for wildlife conservation in Central India, has set up an example to resolve man-wildlife conflict by providing jobs to around 1,000 tribalsliving on the fringes of wildlife parks over the last six years.
The Foundation also formed over 100 self-help groups and trained around 5,000 youths from five tiger reserves. "The Foundation has been working on livelihood programme to ensure that villagers do not go inside the tiger habitat for their livelihood," said Foundation president Kishor Rithe.
"We have limited funds and resources and hence could run the programme in only 80 buffer villages around five tiger reserves — Kanha, Pench (Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh), Satpuda and Tadoba-Andhari," said Rithe.
"The villagers have limited livelihood options and it is not easy to preach conservation to people struggling to eke out a living. Therefore, we made focused efforts to provide employmentopportunities to jobless youths dependent on forests and organise programmes on skills training including driving, tailoring and embroidery, honeybee rearing etc which equip them to either get jobs or start small businesses," says Foundation executive director Giri Venkatesan, who leads the programme.
"In Satpuda tiger reserve in Hoshangabad district, we surveyed 960 youths and provided direct employment to 429 youths between 2007 and 2013 by forming 31 SHGs through 31 training programmes," said Foundation conservation officer Ashfaq Aarbi.
The Foundation helped 152 youths get jobs either in the nearest urban centres or in local businesses such a tourist resorts and hotels near Pench. "We conducted 19 training programmes for youths in housekeeping, catering, craft & bag making, candle and incense stick making and also dance," said conservation officer Anoop Awasthi.
"Last year 64 youths around Pench and Tadoba got licences to drive four-wheelers. Of these, 41 youths are employed with local tour operators. The youths who started earning good income do not want their parents to go into forest for collecting mahua or wood," Giri said.
The Foundation has demanded to implement the programme through village eco-development committees or joint forest management committees as per the approved village micro plans. "If even one tribal youth get the benefit of this programme, it will discourage his family members from going to the forest for MFP collection and illegal grazing," said Rithe.
The Foundation also formed over 100 self-help groups and trained around 5,000 youths from five tiger reserves. "The Foundation has been working on livelihood programme to ensure that villagers do not go inside the tiger habitat for their livelihood," said Foundation president Kishor Rithe.
"We have limited funds and resources and hence could run the programme in only 80 buffer villages around five tiger reserves — Kanha, Pench (Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh), Satpuda and Tadoba-Andhari," said Rithe.
"The villagers have limited livelihood options and it is not easy to preach conservation to people struggling to eke out a living. Therefore, we made focused efforts to provide employmentopportunities to jobless youths dependent on forests and organise programmes on skills training including driving, tailoring and embroidery, honeybee rearing etc which equip them to either get jobs or start small businesses," says Foundation executive director Giri Venkatesan, who leads the programme.
"In Satpuda tiger reserve in Hoshangabad district, we surveyed 960 youths and provided direct employment to 429 youths between 2007 and 2013 by forming 31 SHGs through 31 training programmes," said Foundation conservation officer Ashfaq Aarbi.
The Foundation helped 152 youths get jobs either in the nearest urban centres or in local businesses such a tourist resorts and hotels near Pench. "We conducted 19 training programmes for youths in housekeeping, catering, craft & bag making, candle and incense stick making and also dance," said conservation officer Anoop Awasthi.
"Last year 64 youths around Pench and Tadoba got licences to drive four-wheelers. Of these, 41 youths are employed with local tour operators. The youths who started earning good income do not want their parents to go into forest for collecting mahua or wood," Giri said.
The Foundation has demanded to implement the programme through village eco-development committees or joint forest management committees as per the approved village micro plans. "If even one tribal youth get the benefit of this programme, it will discourage his family members from going to the forest for MFP collection and illegal grazing," said Rithe.
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