THE WALL

Authorities at the Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) have set an excellent example of how village women can be turned into a force to save forests and wildlife. A total of 240 village women living in the Uttar Panialguri village near the BTR under the Alipurduar block-2 take part in routine forest patrolling with forest guards and officials of the Buxa Tiger Reserve Forest in shifts.

                The women even stop village women from cutting small trees for firewood. The women also work as a source of information for the forest department who regularly inform forest officials about the illegal activities taking place in the forest.

                “All the 240 women belong to the 24 self help groups who run the Sikiyajhora tourist spot, …………………………………  Forty five percent of the total earnings from the tourist spot is distributed equally among the 240 village women.”………………………………………

                “If the forest does not exist, the tourist spot will not attract people, thus hitting our source of income. That is the reason why we took up the duty to save the beautiful forest,” said Shanti Soren of the “Baha” self help group……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

The KLLFE Memorial Trust had extended financial help to “BHALOPAHAR” for arranging water –supply for its upcoming primary health-center. The trust-representatives visited the place on 13^th December, 2017 in this connection. The place, being in a rather dry area of Purulia, really suffers from water-scarcity. In spite of that the man-made forest of almost 10 lacs of trees is awe-inspiring. They also have a small firm where they are trying to save the traditional paddies. They run a school up to class VIII with almost 250 tribal students. This is not a Government school – but the trust provides them with stationeries and books and mid-day meal. One of the well wishers provides the dresses. Some of them also stay in the hostels. The sincerity and discipline among the students are noteworthy. There is no health-center near-by. With the help of sponsor, two rooms of the health-center have been constructed. Our help has been utilized for installing a tube-well attached to pump and an over-head water-tank has also been installed.

We sincerely wish the Trust to sail further by preserving and improving the eco-system and helping the tribals to improve their livelihood.