Alternative ivelihood generation for the villagers living below poverty level in the Sunderban Tiger Reserve in order to reduce biotic pressure on the forest.

Duration :
Two Years  

Project to be carried out by :
Nature Environment & Wildlife Society in collaboration with Project Tiger& Local Eco Development Committee

The Village adopted :
Dulki, a forest fringe village in STR

Project carried out by :
Nature Environment & Wildlife Society

Project initiated on :
February, 2005 – It is an ongoing project

Introduction : 

The Sunderbans is the largest deltaic region of the world which extends through from India to Bangla­desh covering a total area of 26,000 sq kms which is having the single largest unit of mangrove popula­tion. Two-thirds of the Sunderbans falls in Bangladesh and the Indian sub-continent consists of 9630 sq km out of which the Reserve Forest occupies nearly 4263 sq kms. It is a Bio-Sphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, Tiger Reserve, National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary. Out of 102 islands of the Sunderbans, 54 are inhabited. Occupationally villagers are largely dependent on monocropped agricul­ture, fishing and honey collection. In many cases the people are so poor that they have to depend on the forest for wood-cutting, felling, poaching etc. as a result of which occasional man eating by the tigers and crocodiles take place. This gives rise to a man-animal conflict.

This project aims at sustainable eco development of the people living below poverty level in the Sunderbans which will ensure less biotic interference on the forest and will ultimately help to reduce the man-animal conflict

PERSPECTIVE OF ORGANISING SELF HELP GROUPS IN THE VILLAGE OF DULKI

The village is bounded in the north by river Gumdi & river Pichhakkhali, in the East & South by river Pirkhali, in the west by river Sudhanyakhali. It falls in the Pirkhali 1 Forest Division, Forest Station being Sajnakhali under the forest Range of Sajnakhali Wildlife Sanctuary The Gram Panchayat of Dulki is responsible to Gosaba Panchayat Samity under Gosaba Police Station in the 24 Pgs (s) Dist of West Bengal.

Population :    

Out of 189 families listed under Dulki EDC     
Christians are 494; Hindu's are 358.
Education is restricted to 2.5% of the total population –
                                                                     Upto 10 standard - 1.75 %
                                                                     Upto 10 + 2standard - 0.75%
                                                                     Graduates - Nil
The lone Primary School is 0.25 km outside EDC.
Higher Secondary School is Gosaba RRI Institution -5 km outside EDC
Pathankhai College is 30 km away from the village.
Primary Health Centre is at Gosaba - 6 km from the village.

Mainly they are:
                      Agriculturists :                                  85%
                      Fisherman :                                        5 %
                      Business :                                       0.5%
                      Service :                                         0.5%
                      Agricultural Labourers & Carpenters: 9 %

Water is available from June to February in canals, ponds from rain water.
Safe Drinking water from June to March.
The nearby market is Gosaba (5km), Harwa (25 km) where the main items are paddy, chilly, potato.

Objective :

The ultimate goals of the project are as follows:-

1. To suggest & engage the villagers who live far below poverty line in the Sunderbans in alternative income generation.
2. To make them self-reliant and do not have to depend on the forest directly for livelihood.
3. This will ultimately reduce man animal conflict in Sunderbans.

Work Done till March, 2006:

1. 10 self help groups, each consisting of 10 members have been formed. All the members are from eco-development committee. The members of EDC live in that part of village which is situated at a distance less than 2 km. from the forest side.
   
2. All the members of self help groups live below poverty line and consequently dependence on the forest for livelihood is more than the other villagers.
   
3. Out of the 10 SHG 4 are with exclusively women members. The rest have both men & women as members.
   
4. 40 % of the amount provided to initiate the alternative income generation activity should be reimbursed before completion of the project.
   
5. We were successful in generating discussion among the villagers from where each group chose their own scheme for alternative income generation. It came out after detail study of the local market potential & their individual traditional experiences in handling the same.
   
6. Among the 10 groups 7 have chosen goat & sheep rearing. 1 has chosen fishery in village pond, 2 have chosen bamboo work.
   
7. Extensive training programme has been organised to develop scientific approach in firming based on their traditional experiences.
   
8. NEWS has monitored the purchasing of materials for each SHG so that the live stocks are safe from disease and other inputs are of good quality & reasonable prices.
   
9. Because of high illiteracy, the mode of training is chosen as group meeting, series of workshops, film shows, slide shows. Books, booklets on scientific firming are also distributed free of cost.
   
10. Regarding the training programme the senior faculties & junior doctors of West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences have taken active role & the final training programme has ended with distribution of government certificates to the participating members of SHGs.
    
11. Regular vaccination programme & free distribution of necessary medicines & minerals have been done.
    
12. The field based NEWS staffs has visited & monitored the day to day problems of SHG everyday.
    
13. All the live stocks are insured under National Insurance.
    
14. At the time of marketing NEWS has assisted the SHGs so that they can make good profit.
    
15. Apart from all this a vigorous campaign has been launched by NEWS on regular basis to educate the villagers about the importance of Sundarban's unique forest eco-system & their duty to protect it.

Achievements already earned :

1. People of Dulki have come to understand that instead of depending on the forests & rivers, risking their lives for earning livelihood, it is much easy and safe to be involved in a self-help group and earn through it.

2. The women folk, specially, are convinced that the alternative income generation schemes in a scientific manner can really be substantial alternative sources for livelihood.

3. Cattle grazing has totally stopped on the river bank. This has helped to regenerate mangrove beds which will protect the fragile embankments of the village. Interestingly the main initiative has come from the members of the SHGs.

4. Due to the prolonged awareness campaign launched by NEWS the relationship between the forest department & the villagers have improved. The leadership of SHGs have started to help forest department in many ways from the conservation aspects.

5. It is interesting to notice that 10 – 12 women previously who were engaged in Prawn seed collection have totally stopped that & now they are engaged in the SHGs for alternative income with great interest.