Village Ecodevelopment Committee

MELGHT TIGER RESERVE
AMRAVATI.
Village Ecodevelopment Committee
v Participation of villagers in joint protection
measures/ joint patrolling / voluntary involvement in antipoaching activities.
Villagers participate in patrolling regularly. Villagers
helped in removing encroachment over 120 Ha out of around
200 Ha existing in the Division. They removed encroachment of
own village and nearby villages. All fire line and fire protection
works are done through VEDC. Villagers are always willing to
support in fire protection and antipoaching activities.
v Forest/ wildlife offences reported since inception of
VEDC / previous two years management.
Some minor offences of collection of firewood are
reported. However, no wildlife poaching or major offence has
been reported in last two years. VEDC has recovered Rs. 1.5
lakh against illegal grazing offences.
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v Preventive measures to reduce human - wildlife conflict.
Crop depredation cases by Wildboar are reported. But
villagers have kept the village clean and no Carnivore related
cases have been reported. LPG connection to 100% families
(130), use of solar street lights, reduction in fallow cattle has
helped in reduction of ManAnimal Conflict.
v Involvement in Habitat management near the village
and overall wildlife conservation measures including
treatment of watershed management activities.
235 Gabion structures; 1 Forest lake have been created
under Dr Shyama Prasad Jan Van Yojana and MREGS.
v Involvement of the community (including women
and children) in the conservation education and awareness.
Women took lead in liquor prohibition program and
today it is the only village of Melghat with zero/no liquor
production & consumption. Young boys arranged Kula (Tiger)
volleyball program every year for Melghat and 100s of teams
participated; they pledged to conserve forest before every game.
v Participation in fire prevention and fire control.
No incidence of forest fire in Borikheda beat from last
three years including this year.
If fire breaks in the other
surrounding forest; without waiting for forest officers, villagers
put it out.
v Control of illegal grazing in forests and promotion of
milch cattle scheme, fodder development. Participation in
prophylactic vaccination.
Villagers recovered 1.5 lakh rupees of compensation
from outsider commercial grazers. Reduced (sold out) 165 low
yielding cattle and all goats. One improved variety bull for better
reproduction has been purchased.
Record Keeping
All records are kept upto date. VEDC has established
independent office.All records are kept in this office.
v Generation of rural livelihood including eco-tourism
and participation especially for women.
Self employment for poultry, sewing machine,
horticulture and dairy development have been given. 12 Vermicompost units have been established. One improved variety bull
for production of better breed of cows and bulls has been
provided.
v Level of independence from forest produce.
The dependence for fuel-wood has been decreased
significantly. The grazing is almost zero. Few incidences of illicit
cutting for household consumption are noticed.
v Health and sanitation activities in the village.
Every Sunday all villagers clean the common roads and
areas of village. Villagers arranges medical camp for general
health check up. Toilets construction is pending due to
unavailability of tap water. Tap water unavailable due to
unavailability of electricity. However, recently Borikheda has
received grants through Tribal Department for solar pump which
will be installed soon.
v Efficient utilization of funds as per micro plan and
financial and social auditing.
The100% funds are used as per microplan as decided by
VEDC. Also 100% grants have been utilized under Dr. Shyama
Prasad Jan Van Yojana 2015-16. It is the only village to use 100%
grants timely. More emphasis on creation of wages through
water and soil conservation are preferred. The audits of VEDC
has been done regularly by C.A. andAG.
WWF PATA BAGH MITRA AWARD 2015
v Participation in the environment/ forest–wildlife
related days, programmes.
Villagers organised
KULA (Tiger) Volleyball
Tournament during wildlife week in last three consecutive years.
Medical Camps on Melghat Foundation day are organised.
Funds are raised by villagers through compensation against
forest offences and donations; 100 % free labor is provided by all
villagers at the time of events.
v Innovative ideas like promotion of organic farming,
usage of green energy, Community nature conservancy.
100% LPG (130) in the village; 5 Biogas; Clean village;
10 Solar lights; Handheld solar lamps and home lights; 6 Solar
cookers; 60 pressure cookers. Volleyball event; Medical camps;
International award of WWF Baghmitra-2015 for wildlife
conservation efforts to Borikheda village; Community Forest
Right of 2000 hectares has been granted to Borikheda village
through Forest RightAct (FRA).