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J uly 2 0 1 3 VANA PREMI

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LIfe Time Subscription - Rs. 2000/- Single Copy Rs. 20/-

JULY - 2013Vol .14 No.7

JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED FOREST OFFICERSANDHRA PRADESH

Yearly Subscription - Rs. 200/-


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1. President : Ex-Officio President of Assn.2. Editor : Qamar Mohd. Khan

Tel : 40121132, 9849233624e-mail : [email protected]

3. Associate

Editor : Sardar Iqbal Singh,: 040-20081143, 9849909877

4. Member : A.H. Qureshi, IFS (Retd.)

5. Convenor : Ex-officio Secy.of Assn

VANA PREMI

Vol : 14 No.7July - 2013

Editor : Qamar Mohd. Khan Associate Editor : Sardar Iqbal Singh

The Association of Retired Forest Officers,

Andhra Pradesh

President : Sri. S.D. Mukherji, I.F.S. (Retd.)

Tel : 23551065, 9885236493Vice President : Sri. Krishna Bhoopal Rao, I.F.S. (Retd.)

Tel : 23743774, 9866307808Secretary : Sri K. Santokh Singh, I.F.S. (Retd.)

Tel : 27962929, 9848808101Jt. Secretary : Sri. P. Upender Reddy, Dy. C.F. (Retd.)

Cum Treasurer Tel. 23342582, 9848754778

Editorial Board

Contents

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VANA PREMI

1

Executive committee members

1. Sri C. Subba Rao, I.F.S. (Retd.), 9848018796

2. Sri Sultan Mohiuddin,I.F.S. (Retd.), 9440057333

3. Sri M. Padmanabha Reddy, I.F.S. (Retd.), 9849269105

4. Sri J.V. Subba Rao, 9848486146

5. Sri A. V. Govinda Rajulu, 9440764611

Total pages 44

1. Editorial ..................... QMK 2

2. Letters to Editor ....... 4

3. Tackling The Maoist Problem

.................................... S.D. Mukherji 5

4. Dawn of 21st Centuary Father

............Dr. B. Raghotham Rao Desai 8

5. A Poacher Was Poached

.................................... K. Pradeep 9

6. Green Warrior Queen

..........Sarada Lahangir 12

7. Wildlife Dwindling!

.........N. Lakshminarayanan 14

8. Emigration - Why People Migrate?

.......................Mehdi H. Hajiyani 17

9. The Painted Storks of Veerapura 19

10. Birthday Greetings... Secretary 22

11. Off The Beaten Track..............................N. Shiva Kumar 23

12. A Tale of Two Tiger Reserves

...............Sunny Sebastian 25

13. Miracle by Governance - Village with

60 Millionsires .... Ramesh Menon 27

14. Tour to Sikkim: An Everlasting

Learning Experience

........................... N. Venu Latha 32

15. Invitation ................... Secretary 34

16. Rain rain go away, our cities cant keep

the water at bay ........ 35

17. The 18th Camel......... 39

18. Healthy Steps to a Longer Life 40

19. Copper Vessels for Pure Water 42

20. News and Notes ....... 43


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Worlds growing Human Population: -

According to the world population clock the

population of our globe on 5th

June 2013 at 11 oclock was 7,121,049,902 and this population is

steadily increasing. World cereal production in

2013, including rice, is forecast to reach a record

2 460 million tonnes. Global cereal utilization is

forecast to reach 2 402 million tonnes in 2013/

14, with a surplus of 58 million tonnes. According

to the latest Food and Agriculture Organization

(FAO) statistics, there are 870 million hungrypeople in the world. Three-quarters of all hungry

people live in rural areas, mainly in the villages

of Asia and Africa. The FAO says that the world

currently produces enough food for everybody.

Overall, around the world in recent decades, a

green revolution has taken place. It has allowed

earths food supply to keep pace with our worlds

growing population, for the most part. So, why

people are still hungry? According to the FAO,

lack of access to food is the problem. High

domestic food prices, lower incomes and, in

2011, increasing unemployment due to the

global economic situation is the reason many

people cannot afford to buy the food they need.

More than anything else food is wasted. The

theme for this years World Environment Day

celebrations was Think, Eat ,Save. Think, Eat, Save

is an anti-food waste and food loss campaign that

encourages us to reduce our food print. World

Population Day is observed on July 11 every year,

to bring awareness of global population issues.

The even t was es tabli shed in 1989. It was

EDITORIALinspired by the public interest in Five Billion Day

on July 11, 1987, approximately the date on

which the world's population reached fivebillion people.

Rapid rate of growth: World population had

reached 6 billion in 1999; 6 billion figures were

reached on October 12, 1999. World population

has reached 7 billion on October 31, 2011. The

increase of one billion populations was seen in

just 12 years time. At the dawn of agriculture in

about 8000 B.C., the population of the world wasapproximately 5 million. Over the 8,000-year

period up to 1 A.D. it grew to 200 million. A

tremendous change occurred with the industrial

revolution: Whereas it had taken all of human

history until around 1800 for world population

to reach one billion, the second billion was

achieved in only 130 years (1930), the third

billion in less than 30 years (1959), the fourth

billion in 15 years (1974), and the fifth billion in

only 13 years (1987). During the 20th century

alone, the population in the world has grown

from 1.65 billion to 6 billion. The following

population growth is expected in the coming

years. 2020 - 7.7 billion, 2025 - 8 billion, 2030 -

8.3 billion, 2040- 8.8 billion and 2045 9 billion

this means that in 32 years we are expecting an

increase of 2 billion population on our planet.

Alarming wastage of food: While the planet is

struggling to provide us with enough resources

to sustain its 7 billion people (growing to 9

billion by 2045), it is estimated that a third of

global food production is either wasted or lost.


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Food waste is an enormous drain on natural

resources and a contributor to negative

environmental impacts. If food is wasted, it

means that all the resources and inputs used in

the production of all the food are also lost. So

think before you eat and help save our

environment! Every year 1.3 billion tonnes of

food is wasted. 1 in every 7 people in the world

go to bed hungry and more than 20,000 children

under the age of 5 die daily from hunger

Indian scenerio: India, with 1,270,272,105 (1.27

billion) people is the second most populouscountry in the world, while China is on the top

with over 1,360,044,605 (1.36 billion) people.

The figures show that India represents almost

18% of the worlds population, which means one

out of six people on this planet live in India. India

is all set to surpass China in population by 2030.

With the population growth rate at 1.58%, India

is predicted to have more than 1.53 billion

people by the end of 2030 or slightly earlier than

that. The population of India since getting

independence from Britain in 1947 increased

almost three times. India has the largest illiterate

population in the world. The birth rate is 22.22

births/1,000 populations, while death rate is 6.4

deaths/1,000 populations. Every year, India addsmore people than any other nation in the world.

Chinas One Child Policy in 1978, has brought

tremendous results. Our current food production

is 250 MT and we must double it by 2040 to feed

the ever-increasing population. There is an

urgent need to undertake a second Green

Revolution by bringing research. India now has

worse rates of malnutrition than sub-Saharan

Africa: 43.5% of children under five are

underweight and India ranks below Sudan and

Zimbabwe in the Global Hunger Index.

Supreme Court recently castigated the

government for allowing 67,000 tonnes of badly

stored grain to rot enough to feed 190,000

people for a month. The government has

promised a new food security bill to provide

cheap food for the poor. In India a billion people

will be going to bed hungry and some 3,000children die each day from hunger-related

causes. Global Hunger Index placed India in

the alarming category, ranked 65, below even

North Korea.

Conclusion: Though the food production is

more than the requirement due to many

reasons about 870 million people remainhungry on this planet. Population is enormously

increasing every year, but land remains the

same and it is not possible to increase our food

production. If we want to increase our food

production with the existing technology then

we have to reduce the area of our forests which

will result in decrease of oxygen, more of carbon

dioxide, no water and extinction of our wild life,

which is again necessary and essential for the

survival of human kind, and therefore definitely

not desirable. Unless we reduce our birth rate

substantially and increase our food production

it will be almost impossible for us to live on

this planet. QMK


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Dear Sir,

I am very much thankful to Sri C.J. Reddy for his prompt telephonic conversation with me and also his

elaborate reply to the queries raised by me earlier, in Vana Premi issue of June 2013. The detailed

explanations offered by him on this subject have no doubt been instrumental in eliminating certain

misconceptions on my behalf. The one point I missed inadvertently in recalling my experience about

toppling of the ten year old planted teak trees was that they were of the stump origin and not of the

seed/seedling origin. Hence the tap root was totally absent in them. However, I agree with his contention

about the role of the side/stem roots in providing stable anchorage to the teak tree in its future life.

Another point on which CJR has not thrown much light is about the pollarding or forking of the trees at

the height of 10'. I believe that length of a timber log also plays an important role in obtaining the

valuable monetary returns from the same and this factor is sacrificed here for obtaining the larger girth.

My third point is whether the heart wood or the sap wood in teak timber has a decisive role to play in

deciding its strength and durability and what was the proportion of heart wood and sap wood in the

samples of the planted teak on which the tests were conducted by the Timber Mechanics Branch of FRI

Dehradun? The general belief that the heart wood contains more dense timber imparting strength and

durability to teak timber, than its sap wood needs more enlightened corroboration from the experts.

I am very glad to note that he is the same Reddy garu of 1959-61 Batch of SFRC and hats off to his

dedication and love for the teak plantations. I am eagerly looking forward to the visit to ideal teak

plantations raised by him near Hyderabad, provided my health permits me to do so.

V.S.Joshi. Mobile: 94222024636.

Dear Sir,

I was very happy to go through the brilliant editorial of yours on water in the latest issue of Vana Premi,

which was very timely too. If the magazine took its birth during KBRs times who nurtured it so well

during the period of its infancy when it germinated, became a seedling and grew into a sapling, you, as

an able successor in the Editorial Section, have seen to it that the same grows into a robust tree, capable

of catering to the needs of different kinds of readers having all sorts of tastes and demands.

I am enclosing a small article on a contemporary topic which may be to your liking. Very shortly I will try

to send another article in English, though I captioned the same in Urdu as Cricket-mein baazigari :

mubah karne-ke mutalluq sarkar-ki zu-ul-jahati, wanting to write down the entire article in Urdu.I will try

to translate the title suitably in English, since the article itself happens to be in English.

With Best Wishes, remain,

Yours sincerely,

Dr.Raghotham Rao Desai

LETTERS TO EDITOR


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Since the gruesome killings of 28 persons -including top congress leaders, its workers and

policemen- during the Congress led

parivartanyatrain Chattisgarh on the 25th of May

2013, the newspapers are flooded with opinions

on the future course of action to deal with the

Maoists. A major section of public opinion

considers: Maoists are terrorists and they must

be crushed with all the might in the hands of the

government. Others feel Maoists cannot be

compared with terrorist and hence all-out

offensive cannot be launched against them.

Some others say: it is a socio economic problem

arising out of the failure of the successive

governments to provide succour to the local

people living in remote forest areas.

According the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs

mining activity is the major cause of the misery

for the tribal population. The lands of the local

people have been acquired by the government

and given to mining companies by giving

meagre cash compensation. No meaningful

rehabilitation measures were taken as a lastingsolution for the poor people who lost their land,

the only source of livelihood. Whereas the

Maoists receive huge money regularly from the

mining companies for trouble free extraction of

minerals at the expense of the poor people who

have lost the land. However, lately Maoists are

TACKLING THE MAOIST PROBLEMBy

S.D.Mukherji

supporting the tribal people against openingup new mining companies.

Another major cause of increasing poverty

among the local people is the degradation of

forests and its biodiversity, a source of livelihood

to the local people. The Forest Department is

blamed for denying the benefit from the forest

to the local people and bringing forest

contractors who have exploited the forests and

its inhabitants for their own benefit.

Government has enacted Forest Rights Act of

2006 that confers rights to the local tribal on

forestland. However, this has resulted in more

forest destruction with no solution to either the

backwardness of the tribal people or curbing

the Maoists. On the other hand Maoists have

earned crores of rupees from timber

smugglers.

Government is now talking of increasing the

Central security forces to deal with the Maoists.

Chattisgarh government is also planning to

increase the state police force for fighting the

Maoists. Indian Air Force has opened a new unitat Nagpur to provide air support to the security

forces. Possibilities are being explored to

supply sophisticated night vision equipment

and radar that can penetrate through the forest

cover. There are plans to erect additional

mobile towers to improve the mobile


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connectivity for better communication. All this

planning is to eliminate the Maoists but surely

at the risk of killing more number of local people

living in the remote forested areas. There is

hardly any method to separate the Maoists from

the local population and therefore escalation of

offensive in these forested regions is going to

spell disaster for the local inhabitants.

It is a tragedy that in spite of huge mineral and

forest resources in Maoist infested regions worth

thousands of crores of rupees the tribal has

remained poor whereas all others have made

fortune. The civil administration has remained

defunct in most of the Maoist dominated region.

People living in these remote forest fringe

villages have been deprived from the benefit of

developmental programmes. They continue to

live in pathetic condition - ill health, poor

education, lack of communication,unemployment and persistent hunger - in spite

of the government allocating huge amounts year

after year on their welfare programmes. The local

people are constantly harassed by the security

forces seeking information about the Maoists.

Maoists have taken advantage of this persistent

backwardness of the local people and joined

hands with them for finding a safe haven for

themselves. This situation needs a change so that

local people are not crushed in the fight

between the security forces and Maoists. The

poor people living in the remote forested region

deserve a better livelihood and freedom from

oppression.

The situation today is while the government is

fully aware of the deplorable condition of the

Maoist affected areas and trying to develop

these backward regions to provide a better

livelihood to the local people, Maoists are

strongly opposing any development as they are

afraid of losing the grip on the local people. By

preventing the development of these

backward regions, Maoists want to show to the

local people the failure of the government

steeped in corruption and excuse for

development for their exploitation. The poorpeople crave for a better livelihood but they

have no means to cooperate with the

government as any such attempt is viewed

seriously by the Maoists and its consequences

are terrible, including elimination. Therefore,

the biggest challenge for the government is to

establish its credibility before the local people

by breaking the barrier built by the Maoist and

provide livelihood security.

In order to implement the developmental

strategy government has identified 82 districts

in 9 states that are dominated by Maoists, tribal

people and the forests the most backward

districts in the country. Government has

approved an Integrated Action Plan for

developing the backward areas in these

districts. A committee consisting of District

Collector, District Superintendent of Police and

District Forest Officer have been constituted to

plan and implement the developmental

strategy to provide better livelihood to the local


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people and eliminate the Maoists domination

over the area. Unfortunately, the

implementation of IAP lacks the desired

commitment in absence of close interaction with

the affected people.

The District Collector is the head of the IAP

committee. He has to coordinate the various

activities covering different departments of the

government and, therefore, has very little time

to spend with the villagers living in remote forest

areas. As regards the District Superintendent of

Police is concerned his role is mostly confined

to mobilizing the security forces, maintain the

law and order and save guard the livelihood of

the people from the hands of Maoists. He has to

deal with the offensive launched by the Maoists.

His meeting with the villagers would, therefore,

be limited and confined mostly for intelligence

gathering with very little time to plan for the

village development. The DFO is the only officer

who is required to pass through these remote

forest fringe villages regularly during the course

of his visit to the forest to attend his normal

duties. Similarly, his subordinate officers- Sub

DFO, Forest Range Officer, Forest Section Officer

and Forest Beat Officer- are also required to pass

through these villages regularly in course of their

field work in the forests. Moreover, majority of

these villages were approached by the Forest

Department to form a committee for the

implementation of Joint Forest Management, a

strategy for protection and development of

forests with the participation of the local

people. DFO was, therefore, considered as an

important member of the district committee

for the implementation of IAP. He is best suited

to visit these forest fringe remote villages, talk

to the local people, find out their problems and

discuss in the district committee for planning

and execution of welfare measures.

Unfortunately, in the actual implementation, it

has been observed, the DFOs have not taken

any initiative to develop the remote forest

fringe villages as a part of the IAP. The state

government has also not issued any specific

instruction to the Forest Department for its

important role in the implementation of IAP. It

is time when this omission is rectified.

Government must ensure that Forest Officers

are fully sensitized on IAP and the

developmental aspect of the forest fringe

Maoist affected villages. It may not be out of

place to mention that Indian Forest Service

Officers are successfully working in various

wings of the government, other than forest, and

they can easily handle the developmental

aspect of forest fringe villages, provided

necessary opportunity is provided.Government may take necessary action at the

earliest on these lines as forest fringe villagers

are desperate for the assistance from the

government to come out of persistent hunger

and backwardness, an ideal situation for the

Maoists.


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It was in Abignanaa-Shaakuntalam that the

great Sanskrit poet Kaalidaasa makes a mention

of Putra Gaatra Parishvanga pleasure which

king Dhushyantha denies himself when he

refuses to acknowledge, in the open court, that

he had ever met Shakuntala, leave alone

marrying her and begetting a son. This

happened, however, to be a twist which the

immortal poet brought into the drama (adapted

from Veda-Vyaasas epic Mahabharatha) byintentionally introducing a character called

Durvasa (and his curse), since the audience of

those times could never accept a hero with

villainous traits. And Dushyantha was the dramas

hero!

The Indian society has changed at an un-

precedented speed, and the new-age father

feels that the best moment of his life is when his

child runs into his arms as he returns home from

his work; the traditional roles of the mother and

father having changed equally fast in most

families. Today when the mother works and

possibly earns as much as her spouse, his role

needs to involve tenderness, patience,

innovation and security-creation through words

and actions. There can no longer be an

acceptance of erstwhile fatherly qualities ofsternness, non-availability, or rare treats on

holidays. Not anymore the common growl is

heard like Let dad come home. I will tell him

what you have done. He will fix you from a

hapless mother faced with bad behavior or bad

grades from a son or a daughter. Nor the children

need to quake in fear when they hear such threat

DAWN OF 21ST CENTUARY FATHERBy

Dr. B. Raghot ham Rao Desai

and await the punishments to be meted out for

being rude, irresponsible in their educational

activities. No more the father figure happens

to be a threat whose presence demands silence,

and fear, since they are no more the sole

providers who were hither-to unapproachable

except through mothers. They cannot at

present be so strict, not any more doling out

retribution or physical punishment if a child

does not come up to their expectations. Gonewere the days when fathers used to be like that

and mothers were seen as forgiving, acting like

soft cushions against the failures of life.

The ne w de fini tion of a family li fe has

successfully wiped out the dreaded father

image of the past. Fathers of today are

protectors, playmates and confidantes of their

children. They are no longer perceived as the

only providers of the family and they are no

longer obsessed with their incomes. In fact they

have a new role as care-givers, as they can look

after their children when the mother is away

on professional duties, utilizing their ability to

mix toughness with tenderness, in a beautiful

manner. Thus, they enjoy the feeling of

contributing to the growing years of their

children. One can even state that no longer aproto-type father exists: he can be a friend or

just an indulgent parent adding humour to the

lives of his children.

Lastly, though, it may be said that there is no

given formula to become a successful father:

being a father is a trial and error model of

learning for the most part of it.


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Th is is an in cide nt that too k plac e in thebeginning of my career. I have been recruited

as RO in emergency batch in 1976 underwent

a short time training in Yellandu, for 6 months

then worked as Range Officer, for a period of 18

months and then went for regular training at

Coimbatore in 1978. The incident I am now

recounting is prior to my Coimbatore training.

It was the year 1978 and, I was working as a Forest

Range Officer, Wildlife Management,

Rajahmundry. I was the only Range Officer in the

entire Division and the jurisdiction was from

Srikakulam to Sullurpet. The DFO was Sri KC

Augustine- a thorough and very kind hearted

gentleman. The staff is very very skimpy - in fact

there was no subordinate in Rajahmundry

except an attender and a jeep driver. I was a

new recruit and a new to the - department, place

and people in and around Rajahmundry, but my

DFO was widely known and well respected. The

paternal attitude towards me helped in

acquiring a very sound and strong working

relation. At that time the staff working in Wildlife

wing is looked down- and I think the same

continues even now!

At that time we heard some whispers that a team

of poachers are active in and around

Addatheegala Range and they have some big

clout. As I mentioned earlier, there was no staff

to assist me in the local enquiry but only the

strong support and encouragement of my DFO.

A POACHER WAS POACHEDBy

K. Prade e p

After a couple of visits to Addatheegla Range,

and some discreet enquiry, I could zero in onto

a fellow- a compounder in the local Govt.

hospital named Varma. He was also having a

medical shop! My further proding revealed that

he was good shooter, has no gun( enquiry from

local police station about a license) - but can

manufacture bullets!

I was frequently visiting Addatheegala in the

evenings/ nights and monitored the

movements of Varma which was very easy-

see if he is in the medical shop! It came to our

notice that usually the hunting party selects

holidays with full moon days. So our monitoring

has narrowed down and we started

concentrating the full moon days.

On one such full moon day, me with DFO, our

only attender and driver went to Adaathhegala

we had dinner in the forest guest house, and

leaving the DFO in the rest house, I strolled

towards the medical shop it was about 9pm

by then. The shop was closed. On enquiry, I learnt

that Varma had some visitors in a jeep in the

late evening and he closed the shop and went

with them. I immediately rushed to the DFO

and informed him. By then it was about 10 pm

and the compounder with jeep left around

8pm.

The Addatheegala range is in Kakinada Division

of East Godavari district and adjoining

Marripakala Range of Visakhapatnam Dist.( Of


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Gudem- Marripakala sanctuary- at that time the

proposal itself was in the nascent stage). The

usual route for hunters was Addatheegala

Veeravaram( a hamlet in East Godavari Dt., about

15 km from Addathhegala)- Mamidipalem( in

Visakhpatnam Dt.,)and Veerevaram it is a ring

road . The road to Veeravarm hamlet is connected

through a narrow culvert from black top raod to

Addatheegala. That means the approach to the

ring road from Addatheegala is only through

Culvert to Veereavaram. The approach road from

Blacktop road to the culvert is a gravel road. That

particular day happened to be a shandy day

and the weekly trade takes place on this gravel

road. When we reached the gravel road, we

observed fresh jeep tracks which means, a jeep

passed through this road after the shandy if

not, the tracks would not be so clear. Now, the

question is whether the tracks were coming out

from the ring road OR entering the ring road!

by then my Adeline was pumping up, and I was

pretty certain that we are going to hit a jackpot.

But my DFO was trying to becalm me. To confirm

the Jeep direction, we went into the hamlet, (

Veeravaram) the hamlet was nothing but a

sprinkling of 30 huts or so no electricity and

it being a wintry night all were asleep. We

knocked on the door of the hut facing the road

and enquired whether any jeep went in to the

forest in the evening, and prompt came the

answer Yes! a Govt. jeep supposed to belong

to Tribal Welfare Department- with 6 to 8 people

went in to the forest a couple of hours back! The

jeep halted in the hamlet to enquire about a

villager, who lives in Mamidipalem because

anybody leaving Mamidipalem have to pass

through Veerevaram. By then it was around

midnight. And our long and gripping vigil

started.

After some discussion, our arrangements to

tackle the jeep were put in place - first we got

hold of a wooden cot for our DFO to settle down

no chairs were available. The spot selected

was the culvert the other side- away from the

hamlet. The plan was to allow the jeep to come

on to the culvert and, I should stop the jeep on

the culvert. Our jeep which will be hidden in

the hamlet will block the rear of the culvert.

The culvert is so narrow, that we can have them

restrained in the jeep itself. I made use of a huge

Terminalia arjuna tree to hide myself, so that the

people in the jeep cannot see me till they

reached the end of the culvert. The DFOs cot

was on the opposite to the T.arjuna tree, and he

will appear to be sleeping, with a blanket over

him!

Around 4 am, we could see the headlights of a

vehicle and all 4 of us were tense and alert

and as planned, we allowed the jeep to come

on to the culvert and then I came out of my

hiding and approached the Driver side and took

away the keys - and the DFO came on the other

side by then our jeep came on to the culvert

and blocked the rear. Our DFO took possession

of a gun held by Varma sitting in the front seat.

We went to the back of the jeep and lifted the

flap. In our jeep head lights we saw freshly cut

venison of a spotted deer in a bamboo basket,

its skin , head, antlers, two huge knives and a

battery operated search light. It was a Govt.,


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jeep- and the occupants were 1) Govt jeep

driver 2) Revenue Inspector 3) an attender from

Tribal welfare Department 4)One DyTahsildar

from Tribal welfare Dept. 5) Compounder - Varma

6) one civilian a friend of the RI.

The recording of statements, Panchanama etc.

were completed and our driver drove the seized

jeep while our DFO drove our jeep with the

accused and brought them to the Police Station

in Addatheegala, and handed over the gun and

knives in the Police station. We anticipated a

strong after effects because of the involvement

of a Govt., jeep and Govt., servants. To counter

any such unwanted pressure, our DFO asked me

to issue telegrams to some senior officers- so I

sent telegrams from Addathhegala Post Office

about the case and involvement of Govt jeep

and staff to Secretary, Tribal Welfare, Hyderabad,

CCF Hyderabad, CF Visakhapatnam, CF

Rajahmundry, DFO Kakinada, Collector Kakinada

and Collector Visakhapatnam. The staff and jeep

are from Kakinada collectorate, the place of

hunting is in Visakhapatnam district. The venison

was auctioned off and amount remitted and then

the accused along with the jeep were produced

before the Sub Divisional Magistrate

Peddapuram, who also is the RDO. Here there

was lot of complications, because the SDM isfrom Revenue dpt., and almost all the accused

are from the Revenue dpt. including a Dy

Tahsi ldar and his jeep. Our telegrams have

helped us here such a forethought!!

While we were busy in Addathhegala with

auctions etc. The Spl. Dy. Collector, Tribal Welfare

to whom the Jeep belonged and was on camp

that night in Addateegala, fled to Kakinada in

RTC bus!!

The trial went on for many years and concluded

in 1982.

Obtaining permission to prosecute govt.

servants was an issue. By the time the trial

commenced I was in Coimbatore- and I made

several trips to Peddapuram, only to be

adjourned! Then on our appeal the then SDM

conceded our plea, and posted the trial to be

taken up after my training in Coimbatore. By

the time the trial concluded two of the

accused expired- two were suspended and

retired and the A1 the compounder was fined.

We succeeded in getting a conviction- The

entire credit goes to our DFO who stood as Rock

of Gibraltar without bowing to any pressure, and

a gem of a fire brand Asst. Public Prosecutor

who dealt this case and without being modestI too feel a little pompous for contributing in

this episode. I have been threatened by Varma

and his goons.

I was again posted as FRO, Wildlife

Management, Rampachodavaram in 1989, I

visited Addatheegala- and I met Varma! He was

so amiable and cordial, and he told me that after

the case, he stopped hunting and became a

naturalist! In fact he was one of my best

informers of any poaching activities.

The case at that time made waves as it was

sensational involving some senior Officers and

a Govt. vehicle, and getting a conviction was

the ultimate victory


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12

Sinapalli may be asmall block in

Nuapada district of

Odisha, but its thick

forest cover attracts

many a nature lover

to this otherwise

nondescript region.

Located between

the borders of Kapsi

and Sardapur

villages is a densely

wooded hillock that the locals call Kapsi Dongar.

Venture towards this verdant wilderness, and

from among the trees could emerge a fierce,

middle-aged woman armed with an axe on her

shoulder. This is Hara Dei Majhi, the 55-year-old

protector of this hillock.The illiterate tribal woman has been keeping a

sharp vigil over these 11.25 acres of forest land

for over three decades now. After all, this, she

says, is the legacy of my late husband. Anang

had initiated the planting of trees on what was

once a barren patch at the foothills of Kapsi

Dongar. He understood the vital role forests

played in balancing the eco-system, and so

nurtured the trees like his own children.

In the beginning, Majhi was not involved in his

work. As we were poor, we depended on minor

forest produce and tendu leaves to keep our

home fires burning. However, due to gradual

deforestation our livelihood was affected and we

became daily wage labourers to feed ourselves.

But Anang hardly had time for wage work

GREEN WARRIOR QUEENBy

Sarada Lah ang ir

because he felt thatthe task of

protecting the

forest from timber

smugglers was

more important.

She even resented

her husbands

p r e o c c u p a t i o n

with the forest, as it

meant he could not

provide adequately

for their family of five. But looking back, she says,

He made me understand the need for forest

conservation. He said that it was the green

cover that ensured good rainfall; that provided

tribals like us with food. Gradually, I started

taking an interest in his work and even helpedhim in guarding the trees.

Anang spent his entire life taking care of the

forest, and it was amidst its green cover that he

passed away in 1995. Even today, Majhi cannot

forget that fateful, stormy night. My husband

lost his life while protecting the forest. It was

raining heavily and he got ready with his baton,

spades and proceeded towards the forest, which

is about 3 km from the village. Later, when he

did not return, I went to search for him with

some neighbours, she says.

Majhi found Anang with severe injuries he

had hurt his head and was bleeding profusely.

Although in pain, he told her that he had caught

some timber thieves cutting trees. When he

tried to chase them away, they attacked him


14/46


13

and fled. As there was no government medical

facility in the village, they had to wait until

morning to get him treated. Our village vaidya

gave some medicine, but it did not work. My

husband refused to go back home. He told mehe wanted to breathe his last in the forest. He

also urged me to take care of the forest, she

continues, her eyes moist.

Majhi took on her husbands unfinished business

as a challenge. But protecting the forest as well

as looking after three small children was easier

said than done. I had no proper source of income.

I could not go to distant places for wage work,

leaving behind my kids and the forest. So I worked

part time as domestic help. A typical day for

her began with a one-hour patrol of the forest.

Back home, she would complete household

chores, feed the children and head out to work

in other peoples homes. At four in the evening

she once again went to the forest. Sometimes I

would stay late into the night in the danger, she

says.Requesting her neighbours to keep an eye on

her children when she was away, she was

convinced the forest too needed her attention.

The States forests are on the verge of extinction

because of timber smuggling, extensive mining,

and unplanned industrialisation. The forest is the

lifeline for us tribal people. More than 60 per

cent of tribals do not own any land. They eithersurvive on minor forest produce or clear out a

small area to cultivate pulses, ragi and millet. So,

for us, it is important to save this habitat.

Local activist Bijay Kumar Sahish says there are

two major threats to the forests, First, forest fires

are very common, particularly during the hot

and dry months of March and April. While some

are accidental, quite a few are started

deliberately. It destroys the wildlife and the

flora and fauna. Also, there is the other menaceof timber thieves. Har Dei has been fiercely

guarding the Kapsi Dongar forest from these

dangers. Incidentally, the Kapsi Dongar forest

has more varieties of trees, including teak, sal,

tendu and mahua, than the adjoining forest

tracts.

In a bid to involve the local community in her

effort, in 2001 Majhi formed a committee, theKapsi Dongar Vana Surakshya Samittee, with

support from the district forest department.

Over the years, as the leader of this group she

has been successful in ensuring that the forest

remains encroachment-free and flourishes, and

has won some awards too. Sarat Chandra Panda,

District Forest Officer, Khariar Forest Division, is

all praise for her, I have seen many groups

protecting the forest in Odisha during my career,

but Hara Dei is unique. Her dedication and love

for nature has inspired many villages in the

region to form Van Surakshya Samitees. Even the

incidence of forest fires in our block has halved

in the last five years.

Of course, these accolades do not mean her

struggle has ended. With only a token monetary

help from the Government, she still has to workhard to survive. At a time when forests are fast

disappearing everywhere, Majhis unique

crusade to treat every tree as a dearly loved child

will continue to inspire and, hopefully,

encourage others to follow suit.

Vana Premi Salutes Majhi and Anang of Kapsi Dongar for protecting the

Forests and sacrificing his life


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14

A perception widely prevalent among people

living around forests and others is that the

wildlife populations of large mammals have

increased phenomenally. In regions of high

intensity human-wildlife conflict likeCoimbatore, Valparai and Sathyamangalam in

Tamil Nadu, this perception is widespread and

getting fostered with every passing day. There

are several reasons for the wildlife to emerge

out of forests and their appearance outside the

forested areas does not mean their numbers

have overshot the limit?In India, elephant is the largest mega herbivore

that unfortunately involves in direct conflict with

human beings, owing to many factors. Less than

25% of the total elephant habitat falls within the

Protected Area (PA) network that comprises the

wildlife sanctuaries and the national parks. The

WILDLIFE DWINDLING!By

N. Laksh m inarayanan

rest of their habitat lies outside the PA network,

which is a mosaic of multiple-use forests

(government reserved forests), plantations and

cultivation that have penetrated into the

natural forests. Living outside the forestedlandscape is a destiny imposed on the

elephants in this epoch as we have been

incessantly chiselling out their habitats for our

expansion. These days their survival outside the

Protected Areas is extremely tenuous as

exemplified by the increased conflict-related

deaths.Even the 25% of the elephant habitat falling

within the PA network is not completely devoid

of problems. Within the PAs we have linear

intrusions like roads, canals, dams, railway lines

and settlements fragmenting the habitat and

reducing its quality. Some of the PAs and


16/46


15

reserved forests have a very high density of cattle

that competes with elephants and other wild

herbivores over the available plant biomass.

Even the best large mammal habitats like theMudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in the Nilgiris

continue to suffer annual man-made fires that

destroy the precious fodder available for the

ungulates.

The quality of habitats has also degraded due to

our intrusion resulting in the proliferation of

invasive toxic plants like Lantana camara,

Parthenium hysterophorus, Chromolaena sp and

scores of other Forest Invasive Species (FIS) that

have colonised good wildlife habitats. In many

PAs, productive riparian forests and vayals

(swamp fallows) that support luxuriant

vegetation were taken over for paddy cultivation

and thus the herbivores are deprived of food

availability. The collection of huge quantities of

minor forest produce that includes edible fruits

and even the bamboo has depleted the food

source for the wild animals. All these factors have

directly or indirectly rendered wildlife such as

the elephants straying out of their habitats.

There is al so a hypo thes is of po pu lation

constriction of large mammals in some PAs

because of the indiscriminate habitat loss in the

surrounding areas and the wildlife obviously

seeks refuge in the areas with minimum human

disturbance. This again cannot be claimed as

increase in population.

Comfortably ignoring all these facts, there is a

vehement claim that wildlife populations have

increased everywhere. The human-wildlife

interface has indeed increased significantly asmore roads are laid inside the forests and

lengthy hard edges are created around the

wildlife habitats. Even the once obscure forest

roads now have many visitors and the forest

boundaries have been filled with tourist resorts,

industries and housing colonies.

Daily encounters: -Wildlife habitats continue

to suffer shrinkage and fragmentation. These

days an elephant or any other wildlife, for that

matter, may have to encounter human beings

several times during its daily movement within

its range.

A decade ago elephant herds might have

peacefully crossed the Mettupalayam-Ooty

road under the cover of darkness. This is just not

possible today with over 3,000 vehicles on

average plying on this road day and night

without any respite. The herds stay baffled on

the roadside awaiting a lull in the traffic to cross

the road. They stand exposed, being watched

by hundreds of people. Many of them think that

the elephant numbers have increased just

because they saw them! A mere increase in the

sighting rate within or outside the habitat does

not mean that there is a true increase in the

wildlife population.

Wildlife populations, especially the large cats


17/46


16

and even the elephants, suffer high mortality

rates. The unnatural mortalities resulting from

poaching, road kill and electrocution continue

to haunt the wildlife populations jeopardisingtheir very existence. Further, there is no factual

basis for claiming an increase in populations as

we dont have reliable baseline information to

compare the numbers over a period of time.

Moreover, a scientifically accepted manner of

enumerating wildlife populations is nonexistent

in most of the areas.

A recent article published by a renowned

primatologist in Down to Earth (Title: Monkeys

common no more) claims that even the

common monkeys around us are dwindling in

numbers and they occur in low densities in

forests. This is much contrary to the popular

belief that monkey populations have exploded.

Wild pigs were in the news for the wrong reasons.

The Kerala government recently allowed the

killing of wild pigs that stray out of forests in

some districts. This decision is based on the

opinion that their numbers have exploded in the

State.

Wild pigs belong to the family ofSuidae and are

the most widely distributed prey species for

tigers. All the three major predatory carnivores

in our region, the tiger, the leopard and the dhole

(Indian Wild dogs) predate on wild pigs.

A long-term scientific study on tigers conducted

in the tropical forests of Karnataka by deploying

techniques such as the scat (faecal matter)

analysis has revealed that, on average, 9.5% of

tigers diet constitutes wild pigs. Experts with

years of field experience assert that the wildpig population is subject to high seasonal

fluctuations. An increase in their numbers in

some areas may be a wholly temporary

phenomenon. Knee-jerk reactions to specific

situations and the resultant, hasty decisions

such as the lethal control of wild pigs may

reduce the prey base of the predatorycarnivores and even increase the human-

carnivore conflict.

Undeniably, the human population is exploding

and our demand for forests and forest produce

are reaching a point of no return.

Th e base le ss claim about the pop ulat ion

increase of wildlife species is an emerging

threat to wildlife conservation. Resultantly,

there is a false complacence that the wildlife is

doing well despite our negative interventions

in the habitats. Major threats to long-term

survival of the wildlife such as poaching and

habitat loss are getting overshadowed. There is

an unnecessary increase in the resentment

level of the villagers living on the borders ofthe forests against large mammal conservation.

False propagation of number increase in

wildlife populations will only distract us from

key conservation priorities and wipe out the

last level of sympathy people have towards

wildlife.


18/46


17

Emigration is the act of permanently leavingones country or region to settle in another. There

are two types of migrations voluntary and

involuntary.

Some of the reasons for involuntary migration

are - drought, famine, religious or social or

political persecution, mass human migrations

like the expulsion of Native American Indians to

reservations, expulsion of Jews by Nazis,

partition of India, ethnic cleansing of Bosnia,

creation of Israel in Palestine, etc. are examples

when people were forced to migrate.

Voluntarymigration is an individual or a personal

decision. A person migrates to seek better

whatever it is that he cant find to his satisfaction

in his country of origin. He carefully weighs what

he is willing to give up for what he is going to find

and accept in exchange. Different people have

different reasons for voluntary migration -

education, job prospect, economic opportunity,

climate, fears of religious or political

discrimination, just to mention a few.

I want to focus on the voluntary migration that

most of us are witness to. More specifically theemigration of people of Indian sub-continent,

to the US. In the late 50s and60s many of us, for

one reason or other, chose the US or UK for higher

education. This I call the first wave of migr for

this discussion. These migr were educated and

wanted higher education, knew and paid the

EMIGRATION WHY PEOPLE MIGRATE?

By

Me hd i H. Hajiyan i

price, maintained the required grades incolleges and universities, worked odd jobs if

necessary to support themselves, learned and

adopted as best as they could the American

way. Most of the first wave of migr know and

have experienced firsthand what it is like to

leave our own country or region and be in a

totally different social, cultural, economic

environment. In this regard, those who came

without any financial support had to earn and

learn at the same time, were better able to

adapt. After successful completion of their

education a few went back. But those who

decided to stay saw and were willing to accept

and successfully adopt some of the virtuous

qualities of the West equality, human rights,

rule of law, freedom of expression, practice of

religion, and above all the US Constitution that

guarantees these freedom equally to all men

and women, unlike many countries we

emigrated from.

Once the first wave of migr comfortably

settled in the US they then were able to lawfully

sponsor their relat ives. I refer to them assecond wave migr. Some of these sponsored

relatives were/are unable and ill-prepared to

adopt and cope with their new Western

environment. Primarily because they

seemingly lacked the drive of the first wave of

migr sponsors did to learn and educate, to


19/46


18

compete and to do better, to improve our lot

and to progress and be prosper a more

desirable way to help family and relatives.

Especially the grownups of the second wave

migr and their children who were well set in

their way of doing things, and were somewhat

content, found it rather difficult to adapt to their

new circumstances and surroundings.

Soon, their glossy concept of America and the

American way, faded and were replaced by

reality of the America and the American way

of life, which many are unwilling or unable to

accept and adopt. Many found it undignified to

do any job their servants and kamwalisdid back

home for them. They found themselves isolated

and alienated. They began to compare and

contrast some trivial aspects of life here in the

US with what they left behind. They started

finding flaws in the West and Western culture,

not that there isnt any. Some sought and foundcompany of likeminded associates. The Boston

bombers uncle called them losers- incapable

of seeing and appreciating opportunity and

adopting virtues of what this country has offered

them. Some of their associates were/are radical,

pariah, and religious extremists. They want and

demand freedom and right to criticize and

condemn many Western ways and practices,

which they did not have before. However, they

would not accept or allow others any such rights

to criticize their practices or belief. They insist that

their interpretation is the only right interpretation

and that there cant be and are no other

interpretations.

Because the second wave migr were isolated

and never participated in free and open

discussion or debate on any subject, they never

learned what this free society called America

is all about. Some of the second wave migr

and or their children were quite susceptible to

such sermons and constant preaching of

extremist viewpoints. When we the first wave

of migr landed on the shores of this land of

free we were prepared to have our ways, beliefs,

and our practices scrutinized and criticized, just

as we scrutinized and criticized theirs,

respectfully. However, the second wave migr

and or their children considered this freedom

expressed by others offensive and off limits. The

sermons and preaching became more inciting

and violent. The mixture of Ignorance and

irrational and intolerant faith is potentially

disastrous. The consequence of such thinking

and association of like-mindedness isirrationality, un-reasonableness, unyielding

rigidity, no compromise, no tolerance of any

contrary view point, close mind, no live and let

live, no respect for others rights or beliefs, no

acceptance of I believe what I want, and you

believe what you want to believe. This we see

continued today in many parts of the world.

Some questions come to mind: If things are so

bad in the West why do people immigrate? If

those who have migrated and found the host

country and its culture so unsuitable and

unacceptable and not to their liking, could they

go back to the country of their origin?


20/46


19

Journeying through the village of Veerapura,Rohan Menzies discovers a mysterious

connection between the people of the village

and the birds that visit once a year. Is it myth,

superstition, or something much deeper?

Leaving behind a noisy, polluted and crowded

city, traveling about 95 km down the Bangalore-

Bellary highway, towards the border between

Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, you find adreamlike village called Veerapura. The rather

unremarkable approach road belies its secret.

Loose gravel shoots out from under the tyres as

you traverse these muddy roads. With fields on

both sides and shepherds guiding their flock

towards grazing land, it appears to be just

another village in South India. But as you get

closer, the more unique this apparently normalroad becomes. You begin to notice that the

towering trees lining the roads are mottled with

pink, you see flashes of black and white in the

skies, and hear the call of hungry fledglings. The

cows stand unfazed while young Painted Storks

(Mycteria leucocephala) perch on their backs. A

most unusual sight for city slickers, more familiar

with the likes of crows and pigeons around ourhouses, these Storks are a far more familiar sight

to the people of Veerapura.

On the road to, Veerapura Painted Storks are a

locally migrating species that follow the rains.

They require water bodies filled with fish to feed

themselves and their young. According to the

IUCN Red List they are a Near Threatened Species

THE PAINTED STORKS OF

VEERAPURA

whose populations are steadily declining dueto habitat loss, hunting of adults and loss of eggs

due to predation. In 2002, Veerapura has had a

record 5000 birds nesting in its trees, making it

perhaps the largest heronry of Painted Storks

in Asia. Each nesting site is vital to a struggling

species. The Storks have been using this

location as a breeding ground for decades now

and as a result have become a huge part of thevery identity of this village

Veerapura is home to about four hundred

people, many of whom have started moving out

to larger towns and cities like Bagepalli and

Bangalore. This has seen a shift in occupation as

well, since a farmers son may no longer be a

farmer, preferring instead to start his own shop

or small business in a nearby town.Th e visible reve re nc e that the people of

Veerapura have towards the Storks was very

intriguing. Most people in cities have begun to

lose that kind of connect with nature. Curious,

we decided to speak with the people in the

village about the deep connection they have

with the birds, to understand if it was symbolic

of something more significant.As we moved through the village, one story

kept resurfacing, recounted every time with

enthusiasm; the story of one man who cared

about the birds a fraction more than the rest,

Mr. Venugopal. A 30 year old farmer, he has been

rehabilitating injured birds in the village for

over 10 years. He would pick up fledglings that


21/46


20

had fallen from their nests, most often due to

stormy weather, and bring them back to his

house to give them the food and medication they

needed until they were well enough to return to

the trees. Over time he learnt more about

rehabilitation from a wildlife expert from

Bangalore, Mr. Saleem Hameed, and he was then

able to dress wounds, check for fractures and

administer injections, all of which improved the

birds chances of survival. What started off as a

one man army began to spark interest in his

neighbours and led to other villagers joining his

effort, bringing fallen birds to him for care. Even

the children get involved, alerting him

whenever they find a bird in distress

The harbingers of good fortune; When we

asked the villagers about the significance of the

Storks, every answer we received was

interesting. The farmers attributed their good

crops to the presence of the Storks in the village.

The home-makers said that it beautifies the

village. Many said that the birds bring goodwill

to the village. And only one young boy said it

was a sign of rain. The prevailing idea was that

the presence of the Storks ensures smooth

functioning of everything within the village, from

good crops to good health, beautification to

goodwill, protection and good business.

In truth, the Painted Storks are as significant to

the village as the people are to it. It would seem

like a large number of factors play a role in the

appearance of the Storks and this in turn plays a

pivotal part in the happenings of the village. It is

easy for us to deconstruct the situation and

analyse it logically until it is reduced to nothing,

but to the people of Veerapura, they know that

when the trees are filled with these colourful

birds, it bodes well for the village.

A way of life worth protecting;Two old men

who seemed to have lived lives filled with

experiences told us a couple of stories that

summarize the way of life of the people in the

village of Veerapura. On one side of the village,

a frail old man sitting under an Peepal tree

slowly lifted his head and began speaking with

a prominent vibrato in his voice. He told us that

a few years ago, a firecracker manufacturing

company tried to convince the villagers to give

up their jobs and start manufacturing

firecrackers for them, or they could move and

allow them to setup the factory with other

employees. The entire community of Veerapura

came together, refusing to do either, because it

would be bad for the Storks. They knew that the

noise and activity would scare the Storks away,

perhaps forever. The elders of the village are

sentimental about the fact that the Storks have

been breeding there for about a century. Mr.

Narsamappa who is over 80 years old still

recollects how the birds nested there when he

was young. And as he told us the story I could

see how meaningful the Storks were to him and

to others around him.

On the other side of the hamlet, under a low

shed, sat another old man, Mr. Narsappa who

looked much younger, with a steady voice, good

hearing and definitely more adamant about

telling us his story, he told us that quite recently

an industrialist approached the villagers and

asked them to give up their land to setup an


22/46


21

industry. They firmly said no, and to guarantee

their own protection, told the government about

the Storks. The authorities helped make sure the

project didnt take off and helped protect the

Storks.

Symbolic science;The people of Veerapura are

observant and truly appreciate the wonders of

nature. As they see the Painted Storks descend

from the skies as a colourful cloud, bearing rain,

we see the logic behind it all. The birds follow

the rains, and their appearance is therefore

synchronous with the arrival of the rain clouds. If

the rains fail, the birds arrive late or leave the

village immediately in search of water. In this

way, the birds have become a sign to the village;

their arrival means the rains are not far and the

crops will prosper. If they are late, it is surely a

sign of trouble.

The people have recently begun to notice a

troubling trend of delay in arrival of the birds.They know that the reason for this is because

there isnt sufficient water for the birds. The

farmers feel it too. The lakes dry up, the bore wells

dont have water and there are no other means

by which they can irrigate the fields. The lack of

rain also leads to harmful fluctuations in the birds

migratory cycle because the nests are built late,

the hatchlings fledge later and the birds that are

meant to retreat in April sometimes stay on till

August. This significantly alters the dynamics of

reproduction of the Painted Storks and has a

subsequently detrimental effect on their

populations.

The people of Veerapura consider the birds an

auspicious sign that the village will prosper that

year, but we could so easily say thats just how

nature works. The Storks are important

indicators of the rain and the good produce that

follows. Interestingly, the birds are not

worshipped in any way, purely respected as an

important part of the ecosystem they share.

The results of a simple survey can sometimes

lead to something so complex, it is

unfathomable to most. Although not based on

scientific research or understanding, the people

of the village have come to realize, through a

cultural inheritance that values the Painted

Storks, the birds are an essential cog in the circle

of their lives. That in order to maintain the

balance, the Storks and their place in the village,

must be protected.

Veerapura offers lessons that other towns and

cities would be wise to learn from. The people

could choose to sell their property and move

to another location with far more money than

they have right now, but they do not. They

choose to stay and protect the habitat of this

magnificent species. They choose conservation

over self-preservation.

The Painted Storks now face another threat, one

that has already started to take a toll on them

and the villagers. Climate change is slowly

toppling all the norms and forcing everything

to create new systems. The storks must fight

this ever-increasing danger in order to survive.

But in Veerapura, the people will fight the storks

battles for them as long as they value the annual

return of the migrating painted wonders.


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22

We wish the following born on the dates mentioned

A very Happy Birth Day

Birth Day Greetings

S.No. Name of the member D.O.B.

Sarva Sri

1. K.Buchiram Reddy 07-07-1932

2. K.Madan Mohan 10-07-1942

3. N.Varaprasad Rao 10-07-1948

4. M.Prasada Rao 10-07-1947

5. C.Ramakrishna Reddy 11-07-1931

6. M.Padmanabha Reddy 14-07-1941

7. M.K.Prasad 14-07-1945

8. B.Pratap Reddy 18-07-1928

9. K.Santokh Singh 21-07-1937

10. Dr.K.Kesava Reddy 01-08-1935

11. V.Parthsarathy 02-08-1944

12. Hitesh Malhotra 03-08-1952

S.No. Name of the I.F.S. Oficer D.O.B.

Sarva Sri

1. Prashanth Kumar Jha 07-07-1959

2. N.Pratheep Kumar 07-07-1963

3. Dr.Chandra B.Malasi 08-07-1957

4. Tejsingh Kardam 10-07-1954

5. Rahul Pandey 14-07-1974

6. D.Nalini Mohan 15-07-1962

7. Swargam Srinivas 15-07-1962

8. N.Shyam Prasad 16-07-1955

9. G.Chandrasekhar Reddy 18-07-1965

10. Dr.K.Gopinatha 21-07-1963

11. Mohd.Ibrahim 22-07-1954

12. Rajesh Mittal 25-07-1955

13. Onkar Singh 27-07-1953

14. S.M.Selvaraj 01-08-1953

15. R.Sundara Vadan 01-08-1956

16. Ratnakar Jauhari 02-08-1970

17. Ajay Kumar Naik 03-08-196518. P.Adivappa 03-08-1953

19. A.V.Joseph 05-08-1956

S.No. Name of the S.F.S. Oficer D.O.B.

Sarva Sri

1. N.Qadar Vali 06-07-1960

2. A.Shankaran 16-07-1956

3. S.Ravishankar 16-07-1964

4. Smt.S.Sujatha 18-07-1975

5. B.M.Chanakya Raju 18-07-1957

6. Smt.T.Jyothi 23-07-1975

7. Mrs.G.Krishna Priya 24-07-1982

8. V.Anjaneyulu 24-07-1966

9. Smt.I.Padmaja Rani 26-07-1976

10. B.Janaki Rao 26-07-1961

11. Ms.M.Babita 27-07-1972

12. P.Dhanraj 28-07-1963

13. Smt.M.Hima Sailaja 29-07-1980

14. L.Ch.Tirupaelu Reddy 01-08-1956

Secretary


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Wildlife watching is a tricky occupation and to

conduct the arduous task of wildlife census non-

stop from noon-light to moonlight is even more

complicated. Despite the prevailing heat

conditions and a sizzling temperature of 44

degreess Celsius, a full-scale wildlife census was

recently conducted at Sariska and

Ranthambhore wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan.

On May 25 and 26, nature lovers congregated at

Sariska National Park (SNP), located a mere 200km from Delhi. The reason behind wildlife

enthusiasts and trigger-happy photographers

making a beeline for the park was that rare

opportunity to experience animal census

operations firsthand. While it was adventure for

some to spend a night in the forest, for others it

was a getaway from the daily drudgery of city

life. Certain first-timers thought that it is a fun

exercise, but in reality, it is serious work ofconservation.

Spread over 850 sq km, SNP is home to a variety

of fauna such as spotted deer, chinkara, nilgai or

blue-bulls, jackals, hyena, leopards and

reintroduced wild tigers. Having an undulating

rocky terrain with wide valleys, the forests

comprise of typical dry deciduous trees that

dramatically change colours with the seasons.

The forest is lush green in the monsoon withnumerous streams and mini waterfalls; turn

invigorating with balmy atmosphere in the

winter, but dramatically turn tinder dry in the

summer.

Summers are chosen for animal counting

because the animals scurry for shady corners

during this time making the job easier for

OFF THE BEATEN TRACKBy

N. Shiv a Kum arforest officials. The preferred day-night

invariably coincides with a full moon when

there is ample light for easier sighting. The

wildlife census is a 24-hour non-stop vigil from

atop a strategically chosen spot that is usually

a makeshift platform called machan made of

wooden logs and perched high upon a sturdy

tree. Mostly all machans are rickety and pretty

uncomfortable, giving sore bottoms by the end

of the exercise as I had experienced during myparticipation in various such censuses.

According to the District Forest Officer (DFO) at

SNP, the waterhole technique is applied where

animals are counted from a hiding place or

machan as they visit waterholes. The survey is

taken at a time when there is the least

availability of water at all water sources in the

entire census area. To facilitate this method of

counting, 271 machans were specially builtoverlooking water points which are basically

waterholes to quench the thirst of small and

big creatures.

Sharad Khanna, CEO of Indian Wildlife

Adventures who escorted a team of volunteers

from NCR, said: The waterhole survey started

at 10 a.m. and continued throughout the night

until the next day till 10 a.m. with the help of a

fact-sheet where species and their totalnumbers were diligently recorded. Use of

binoculars and cameras were permitted for

better viewing and determining the sex and age

of the animals with help of experienced forester

who accompanies each volunteer.

The result obtained is an index of wildlife animal

presence in that particular area. At the end of


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the 24-hour exercise, the available data is

computed to arrive at a guesstimate. Data thus

compiled over the years will show results that

can be deciphered for better conservation

methods by researchers.Though wildlife census involves many more

practices like pugmark methods, scat sampling,

roadside counts, pellet group count, camera-

trap method, waterhole census in the most

widespread and comprehensive. The technique

not only covers the entire sanctuary but also

involves volunteers so they also get to

appreciate and participate in the nations

wildlife conservation, informed the DFO.On an earlier occasion, to study the status of

wildlife population in Sariska, I was placed at a

prime location and provided with water and

food. While the daytime was scorching, it also

gave me chances to be up-close with birds and

beasts. As the beautiful big orb of the moon

rose on the horizon, there was some respitefrom the heat but soon this turned miserable

as the temperatures dipped to shivering

standards. In the wee hours, there was

temporary cloud cover and suddenly a

resounding roar shattered the silence of the

night but nothing was visible. Until daylight

dispelled darkness and forest officials came to

take us back to the base camp, it was not known

that it was a leopard that let out the spine-chilling roar. The tell-tale pugmarks revealed it

all.

SFRC ALUMNI MEET BHOPAL

XIVth SFRCians meet BHOPAL from 24th October to 27th October, 2013.

Inaugural Function on 24-10-2013 at 4-00 PM followed by cultural programmes , Happy Hours &

Dinner

25-10-2013 Visit to SANCHI STUPA in the forenoon &Lunch.Visit to Lord Shiva temple at

Bhojpur in the Afternoon, followed by Happy Hours & Dinner.

26-10-2013 Visit to local places in Bhopal followed by LUNCH, Happy Hours & Dinner.

27-10-2013 Vaedictory Function from 10-00 AM to 12-00 Noon followed by LUNCH &

Departure.

Accommodation is available from 24th Noon onwards only.

Subscription- Rs.16000/= for Couple & Rs. 8000/= for Single person on twin sharing basis. Last date

to receive subscription is 31st JULY, 2013. Account payee D.D. payable at BHOPAL to be drawn in

the name of XIV th ALUMNI SFRC MEET BHOPAL 2013 & sent to Sri. UMAKANT PARASHAR, Secretary,

XIVth SFRC Meet Bhopal, C/14, MIG, Nehru Nagar, Kotra Sultanabad, Bhopal (M.P.)

Contact No. of Secretary.... 91-9425008056 E-mail ID [email protected]

Note:- Indicate your name, batch & State on the back side of the Cheque. D.D. should accompany

your Bio-Data. -Upender Reddy


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By

Sunny Sebast ian

First there was the Sariska debacle in which allthe tigers were found missing in the reserve in

Rajasthans Alwar district sometime in 2004-05.

Then there was similar misfortune in Madhya

Pradeshs Panna Tiger Reserve in February 2009

the wild cats became extinct there.

Sariska led the way soon by reintroducing tigers

under a recovery plan with the support of theNational Tiger Conservation Authority in June

2008.

Panna followed suit in March 2009. It

reintroduced one female each from

Bhandavgarh and Kanha. Thereafter, it appears,

both the reserves charted their own journeys.

The Panna experiment turned out to be a bigsuccess. The 576-sq.km reserve, spread over

Panna and Chattarpur districts of Madhya

Pradesh, soon became home to a flourishing

population of big cats. The reserve, 25 km from

Khajuraho, once ravaged by problems, has now

12 tiger cubs, besides the five adults brought in

as part of the reintroduction. And that gives

Sariska, the leader, a complex, for its three

tigresses are yet to give a litter.

The ta le of the tw o re serves came in for

comparison this weekend at Alwar when the

main protagonists of the tiger reintroduction

process got together to discuss the rebuilding

A TALE OF TWO TIGER RESERVES

of Sariska.Where there is a will there is a way, said R.

Sreenivasa Murthy, Field Director in the Panna

Tiger Reserve, giving a presentation on tiger

relocation and their successful breeding.

The Panna story included the truancy of the

lone male, which apparently showed homing

instincts to repeatedly move in the direction ofPench it had to be brought back with the

help of 70-strong forest staff and four elephants

for a second time.

The Panna experiment did not stop at just

reintroduction. The park authorities opened a

new chapter in conservation by introducing two

orphaned female cubs to the reserve in March2011. They were the litters of a collared tigress

that got killed in a fight with another in Kanha

in May 2005. They were picked up and hand-

reared for one-and-half years to be released into

an enclosure in Kanha.

The Panna team met with success in the

rewilding of the tiger. One of them, T4, delivered

cubs in November 2011, said Mr. Murthy.

Mr. Murthy and H.S. Pabla, who retired last year

as the Chief Wildlife Warden of Madhya Pradesh,

said they did their part and left the rest to the

tigers. In Sariska, females ST2 and ST3, showed

signs of pregnancy but no litters were


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26

produced. The cause of not breeding is not

known, said K. Sankar, scientist with the Wildlife

Institute of India, Dehra Dun, who has been part

of the Sariska experiment. There appears to beno disturbance to the tigers. The prey density is

one of the best in the country. However, the

human habitation inside the park surely is an

obstacle. In fact, the Sariska tigers have only 50

sq.km in the 882-sq.km reserve for themselves.

While some experts, including Sunayan Sharma,

president of the Sariska Tiger Foundation, which

organised the workshop, felt that the radio

collars around their necks might be hampering

the breeding, others emphatically dismissed it

as inconsequential. There is no connection

between the radio collar and breeding, said Dr.

Sankar. We have consulted the NTCA and they

are of the opinion that collars cannot be the

reason, said U.M. Sahai, Head of the Forest Force,

Rajasthan.

What made all the difference in Panna? I have

no explanation why tigers are not breeding in

Sariska and they do in Panna, said Mr. Pabla. His

suggestion to the Rajasthan authorities in thisconnection included introduction of breeding

tigresses instead of virgins and not to have

too many males around. Mr. Murthy said the

presence of elephants in Panna was of great

help to tigers. Moreover, Panna had an

advantage of not having any village inside.

Raghuveer Singh Shekhawat, Field Director,

Sariska Tiger Reserve, is confident of a

breakthrough in the reserve.

What is all this fuss about litters? We need to

leave certain [things] for the tigers to decide,

said Samir Sinha, author and head of TRAFFIC

India.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Plato defined people as Swinish multitude for; they follow blindly, more often than not,

the wrong leader.

Another philosopher jokingly said that there is no need for M in the word, Masses as the word

with or without M means the same.

Another wise man gave the derivation of the word, Democracy as demons autocracy.

Some say that these definitions really apply to the present day People, Politics and Polticians.

Source: The Hindu dated January 7, 1986; Courtesy: K.B.R.

PEOPLE, MASSES, DEMOCRACY, POLITICS AND POLITICIANS


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I wish Govt. India and the state govts. should

publicise this achievement of the Village on a

large scale using all media available. I am sure

even if 10% of the villages in the country follow

the example many problems that the villages

face will be solved. I also wish some NGOs take

up this work and spread the word.

MIRACLE BY GOVERNANCE: - A village with 60

millionaires! Once impoverished and drought-

prone, Hiware Bazar in Maharashtra is a shining

example of how a visionary leader can use good

governance to make degraded areas resource-

rich and transform the future of its people

through empowerment and inspiration.Raosaheb Pawar, 85, a former wrestler, cycles to

the village square at Hiware Bazar in

Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra to sit under

shady trees and chat with others, most of them

as old as him. Life is good for all of them as they

have become prosperous, and often the

conversation is about their village that was such

an unliveable place 25 years ago.

Raosaheb thought that most of the villagers

would die of poverty and hunger. Today, a deep

sense of joy and gratitude swells within him as

he talks about how just one young sarpanch

came into their lives and transformed their

future. He proudly says he owns 45 acres of lush

MIRACLE BY GOVERNANCE -

VILLAGE WITH 60 MILLIONAIRES!

ByRamesh Menon

fertile land, one tractor, one harvesting machine

and three motorcycles. His annual turnover:

Over Rs. 15 lakh. He is not the only one. There

are 60 millionaires in the village today who are

all farmers!

Just a little over two decades ago, Hiware Bazar

was a village without hope. It was racked with

droughts, year after year. There was no water in

the wells. The land was seriously degraded as

the trees had been cut and used as firewood or

sold. There were no job opportunities. There

were numerous illicit liquor dens and

alcoholism was tearing into the social fabric.

Domestic violence was naturally rampant.Remembers Raosaheb: We lived in a very

ordinary poor village, but were happy with our

simple lives. But after 1972, when a severe

drought struck, the peace was shattered.

People became irritable and restless as the

struggle to stay alive became severe. Petty

reasons were enough to trigger off bitter

quarrels as there was so much despair and

frustration. Villagers started consuming liquor

and it added to our ruin. Many of us left our

empty fields and migrated to nearby cities to

work as daily wage labourers.

Poor Governance: - There was no governance

worth the name. The village was sliding towards


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disaster. As India started to ramp up economic

growth, new opportunities began to sprout and

young Indians started dreaming of a resurgent

India. The youth in Hiware Bazar wondered why

they too could not be a part of that dream. What

the village needed was a visionary leader. Thus,

they got together in 1989 and persuaded

Popatrao Pawar, the only post-graduate in the

village, to contest for sarpanch.

Popatrao was just in his mid-twenties and his

family wanted him to take up a white-collar job

as they saw no hope of him doing well if he stayedon in the village. As it was, 90 per cent of villagers

had already migrated. Hiware Bazar was no place

to live in. Despondency, hopelessness and

unaddressed anger punctuated their lives. But

the youngsters of the village just would not let

him think of anything else - they insisted that he

take over as sarpanch and lead them to a new

dawn.

A bureaucrat revered Popatrao also had other

dreams. He wanted to excel in cricket and make

it to the Maharashtra Ranji team. But the

youngsters of the village just would not let him

think of anything else - they insisted that he take

over as sarpanch and lead them to see a new

dawn. Ultimately, when he announced that hewould contest, the elder contestants withdrew

and he was elected unopposed. As soon as he

took over, he got the liquor dens closed down

and banned the consumption of liquor, tobacco,

paan and gutka. There was scarcely any

opposition as the whole village knew what

addiction had done to them and their dear ones.

Says Laxman Pawar, a farmer: When the liquor

dens were closed, we saw hope for the first

time.

Water management: - The next step was toensure that every rain drop that fell in the village

stayed within and did not flow away. Numerous

check dams were built by the villagers as

Popatrao told them that they should be pro-

active, not wait for the government to do

everything. Trees were planted before the rains

every year. Ponds were dug up to store rain

water that gradually enriched the water table.Soon, they had created 52 earthen bunds, two

percolation tanks, 32 stone bunds, and nine

check dams. We used just allocated state

government funds. The shramdan cut costs and

also ensured quality work. It was as if we were

building it for ourselves and for our children.

Participatory governance goes a long way, says

Popatrao. Being in the rain shadow region,

Hiware Bazar got just about 15 inches of annual

rain. Soon ponds and trenches stopped

rainwater from flowing out of the village.

After the very first monsoon, the irrigation area

increased from 20 hectares to 70. In 2010, the

village got 190 mm of rain, but we managed

well because of water management, saysHabib Sayyed, who works closely with Popatrao

on monitoring the water situation. Watershed

management has also helped them harvest

multiple crops. Before 1995, there were 90

open wells with water at 80-125 feet. Today, there

are 294 open

july issue vana premi

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