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Environment / Ecology | A village that watches over its trees by Antara Bose

A village that watches over its trees by Antara Bose

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published Published on Oct 30, 2011   modified Modified on Oct 30, 2011

Jamshedpur, Oct. 29: For 29 years, men and women of a village in a rebel-hit block have been staying awake to guard the trees. It could have been another forest conservation legend like the Chipko Movement in the 1970s, where Himachali women embraced trees to prevent commercial felling.

But here, the unique effort of Pindrasol, a village under Ghurabandha block, 84km from Jamshedpur, is a tucked-away secret in the hinterland, though the green drive started way back in 1982. Barring a couple of state government honours, it has stayed in the umbra of publicity.

When in the early 1980s, villagers noticed that the rich forest cover beside their land — comprising sal, eucalyptus, acacia, mahua and other trees — was being ripped apart by commercial traders as well as by villagers who didn’t know better, they decided to act.

The Gram Prabandhan Evam Van Sanrakshan Samiti, a five-member committee, came into existence in 1982 to safeguard 70.148 hectare of forest land from the timber mafia and villagers scourging for firewood.

The committee helps set up vigilante groups comprising men and women to stay awake and prevent unauthorised felling of trees. Every family — Pindrasol has a population of 251 with 45 households — takes turns to keep vigil. There’s an unspoken rule that one member of every family must offer their services at night to guard the forest.

“In the early 1980s, we started noticing that the forest cover was thinning, thanks to rampant felling. We knew that if we didn’t stop this at once, there would be a time when no greenery would be left. It was then that we formed the vigilante committee. Today, when we see the trees we have a sense of pride and belonging. The chowkidari has worked,” smiled samiti president Laxman Murmu.

Things were not rosy always. Mindsets had to be won over, infighting stopped, resentment and resistance conquered. But the committee managed to survive and the ranks of crusaders grew.

In 29 years, the villagers have caught 80 people felling trees red-handed. Offenders are also slapped fines, with Rs 501, the highest, reserved for anyone caught felling sal. The committee uses the money collected to fund welfare activities. “It maybe buying a pair of goats for someone or paying someone’s college fees,” said Murmu.

Most importantly, the forest is now lush and thriving.

Pindrasol also takes forest timber, but judiciously. And it follows a strict protocol.
 
 

The Telegraph, 30 October, 2011, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1111030/jsp/frontpage/story_14684544.jsp


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