SUBHASH MISHRA
Ranchi, Sept 4: The State forest department has rolled out an ambitious development project for capacity building of villagers of 85 Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary villages to earn livelihood.
A senior officer of the state forest department said that Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary of Jamshedpur keeps special significance as it is home to Asiatic Elephants and other wild animals reserve.
“The project has been launched since the area is surrounded by 85 forest villages. It would not only promote wildlife but also enhance livelihood of villagers,” he added.
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (APCCFs)-cum-Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) Sanjiv Kumar visited the forest villages of Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary and discussed with villagers over enhancing their livelihood and capacity building.
“Training of stitching , making Mahua pickles, Mahua ladoo and other forest produced items have generated their scope of earning and enhance women empowerment. No doubt villagers face basic facilities but new projects and earning generating scheme would make their living standard better,” he said.
The senior forest official said that water conservation and water harvesting structures and soil moisture conservation works done by Dalma forest officials have recharged the ground water and have become helpful in rice cultivation in more than 150 acres in villages of Chakulia, Shaharbera and others.
Notably, Sanjiv Kumar as division forest officer (DFO) had experimented a similar check dam project in Tundi forest villages in Dhanbad district in 2005-06 and that changed the scenario of Naxals-affected villagers
“This year monsoon is weak in Jharkhand. Number of rainy days has so far been lesser in comparison to the previous years. Such works have become a boon not only to wildlife but also to villagers,” he said.
Besides, the creation of water harvesting structures in villages has helped in paddy cultivation in more than 150 acres of Saharbeda, Dahubeda, Chakulia villages despite weak monsoon.
Sanjiv Kumar said there will be a focus on revival of traditional medicinal systems which will not only cure people but also improve biodiversity.
