Daltonganj: The south division of Palamu Tiger Reserve has launched a new initiative titled ‘Vanjeevi Didi’ across 17 identified villages to train educated women to become PTR ambassadors.Deputy director (south), Kumar Ashish on Friday said, “We identified 17 villages so far. We roped in 18 women from each village. Majority of the identified women are college pass-outs or doing graduate courses. A few others are well-versed in a domestic approach to save jungles and wildlife. As ambassadors of the PTR, they are being tasked to motivate others in and around their localities to not harm the forest and wildlife.”
The project was launched on Feb 17 in Garu range. Villages like Henar, Surkumi, Hasua, Armu, Kotam, and Pandra, out of the 17, are seen as hinterlands of PTR, but there are girls and women who did postgraduate, degree, and diploma courses, said PTR sources.“Those who plunder forests do not come from Mars, they have homes too. So if the women ask their men not to harm or destroy habitat, we hope they will listen. Women folk of more than a dozen families last year prompted their men to lay down country-made guns, which is an unprecedented event of the PTR in preventing crimes against wildlife,” he said.Each Vanjeevi Didi will get Rs 3,000 incentive per month. “The project is initially for two months and further decision will be taken after reviewing its success,” he said.PTR has also submitted the proposal to the state forest department for formal approval and funding.On the responsibilities, he said, “Vanjeevi Didis will impart primary teaching in their village also. It will help increase enrolment of children in schools. They will also disseminate information about the employment notices and developmental plans of the state govt to locals so that eligible people can apply among others.”Vanjeevi Didis are on the pattern of the Sakhi Mandals, who are now doing internal micro-banking among themselves.“The state govt has para-legal volunteers. A para-legal volunteer acts as a bridge between a common man and district legal services authority. Likewise, Vanjeevi Didis are a linkage between the families and the jungles,” said a PTR source.
