SANCALP - Community Leaders Network

 

• About SANCALP
• 1st National Convention
• CL Training on NRM based Livelihood planning
• SANCALP Second National Convention
• SANCALP Third National Convention 2012

 

 

Second National Convention of SANCALP

The Second National Convention of the Community Leaders was held from 25th to 27th February 2011 at IBRAD Campus, Kolkata. More than 100 community leaders along with representatives from state forest departments and NGOs from ten states participated in the program namely Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Tripura and West Bengal.

Expansion of network in new states
It is encouraging to note that during the Second National Convention two new states namely Gujarat and Orissa have joined the program. VIKSAT from Gujarat, RCDC and SPARDA from Orissa have sent participants in the program.
As decided during the December workshop, this time 40 new members have participated in the program.
Inauguration

Dr. A.K.Banerjee, IFS (Retired), the pioneer of Joint Forest Management in the country in better words father of Joint Forest Management in the country has inaugurated the program. Mr. R.A. Singh (Retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Himachal Pradesh) was present during this auspicious occasion as guest of Honour.

 

Convention Design

This year the convention was designed keeping in mind the demands and expectations of the Community Leaders in contrast to overcome the problems related to Conservation, management and livelihood generation through Natural Resource Management. In that way, training inputs were introduced this year, which can help enhancing livelihood opportunities of the Community Leaders in their respective area. Accordingly following training sessions were conducted:

Training Inputs

Bamboo & livelihood generation
Dr. R.N. Chhattopadhay, Professor, IIT Kharagpur shared with the community leaders on bamboo cultivation & how it can enhance the socio-economic scenario of an area with suitable examples and case studies. He also elaborated the present market scenario and the existing opportunities of the handcrafts materials made up of bamboo.

Agriculture: the backbone of our society
Mr. Jayanta Paik shared and elaborated the steps and procedures required for fruitful cultivation of rice in the country with numerous examples from different agro-climatic zones. He also shared about building skills on establishment of nursery and the key things to keep in mind while going for establishment of nursery.

Medicinal plants and its role in NRM
Dr. Trina Mandal from West Bengal State Medicinal Plants Board described mainly about the role of Medicinal Plants Cultivation in NRM. The different areas she covered while presenting are the uses of medicinal plants in different fields, its demand in National & International Market, some of the rare & endangered species, utility of organised cultivation and its present scenario in context of West Bengal.

Water Conservation
Mr. D.K. Shaoo, Range Officer, Chhattisgarh Forest Department shared his thoughts on issues related to water crisis in central part of our country and the various techniques like rainwater harvesting, artificial recharge, etc. to overcome the hurdles related with water crisis.

Irrigation problems & its solution
Ajit Pal Singh, Regional Manager, International Development Enterprise, Kolkata discussed with the community leaders regarding Low Cost Water Lifting Technology mainly through the treadle pump and how it can be utilized to overcome the problems related to irrigation in our country.

Man – Animal Conflict Management
Dr. Subrat Mukherjee, IFS, Field Director of Sundarban Tiger Reserve shared about the Issues related to man –animal conflict in Sundarbans and how the community people in collaboration with the Forest Department played a crucial role to bring a positive change.

FRA in context of Community people
Mr. R. A. Singh, retired PCCF, Himachal Pradesh shared about the Forest Right Act in context of the community people. He highlighted the historical injustice to the forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.  He also insists that the Exercise of rights in common requires regulation, self-regulation and self-discipline by the communities, which will lead to a happy, ‘win-win’ situation.
Integrated approach
Mr. Soumyajeet Biswas, Project Coordinator (Joint Forest Management/ Forest Development Authority), Madhya Pradesh State Forest Department discussed with the participants regarding how they are working for the integrated development of Bundelkhand region in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

The community leaders expressed that the training session stimulated their thought process, gave opportunity for exchange of information and ideas that they can apply in their respective areas.
Sharing of experiences by the participants:

In total 30 presentations were made. It was really encouraging to listen to the participants on how they have handled the challenges of different dimensions like

• Encroachment in forest areas in Madhya Pradesh,
• Forest Fire Management and involvement of women in Bihar,
• Mass awareness creation through ‘raksha bandhan program’
• Ensuring organic cultivation, collection and processing of Non Timber Forest produces in Chhattisgarh
• Problem of illegal felling and making people realize the importance and value of forests in Orissa

Community Leaders sharing their experiences in the field of NRM and the works carried out under their leadership

• Plantation and protection of forest resources by the women members and their challenging initiatives in Gujarat
• Involving tribal in developing forest based enterprises and initiatives taken in the development of livelihood opportunities through eco tourism in Andhra Pradesh,
• Strengthening of the forest committees through awareness programs, experiences in the field of medicinal plants cultivation and its marketing and income generation activities through the SHGs in Karnataka
• Rubber plantation in the degraded forest lands in Tripura
• Meeting the challenges of man and animal conflict and disaster management in Sundarban areas.

Cultural Program

The days were not only confined to discussing the issues related to NRM but the participants have also showcased their talents through various kinds of cultural presentations including songs, dance, drama, recitation etc.  
They have also taken part in tree plantation program on final day of the convention.  

Exhibition of the products prepared by the Community Leaders

The opening of the exhibition stall started with the dhak play which is quite famous in this part of the world. The stalls inauguration was done by Mr. R.A. Singh, Retired PCCF, Himachal Pradesh. He visited all the stalls and encouraged the community leaders by understanding various aspects of their work. There were eight stalls put up by the community leaders from each state jointly with each other and also stalls put up by the women Self Help Group members from Sundarban, West Bengal showcasing their art & craft.

Participatory evaluation
This year the community leaders were given the opportunity to think, decide and understand the presentations made by each of the participants, to come up with a participatory evaluation. The following criteria were fixed to evaluate the presentations made in consultation with all the participants:

• Tangible changes brought in the field
• Number of people involved through his work
• Problem solving and challenging initiatives undertaken
• Time

Group discussion among the CLs

They were given the list of the presenters and have evaluated them based on the above-mentioned criteria on 0-5 point scale. Thus each presenter has evaluated by the rest of the participants. At the end of the presentation the scoring was done and the best presentation per state was selected for presentation on the final day in front of the panel of judges.
The award for the best presentations went to the following participants:

• Andhra Pradesh: Sri P. Ramana
• Bihar: Smt. Manjula Devi
• Chhattisgarh:  Sri Ramnarayan Yadav
• Gujarat: Sri Kantha Bhai
• Jharkhand:  Sri Abhay Kumar Singh
• Karnataka:  Sri Ravindra
• Madhya Pradesh:  Smt. Sundar Bai
• Orissa:  Sri Somnath Patel
• Tripura:  Sri Devendra Tripura
• West Bengal:  Sri Banamali Mandal

Recognition of the Community Leaders

The communities Leaders were rewarded for their efforts towards the cause of natural resource conservation. The esteemed Panel of Judges included Mr. R.A.Singh, Retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Himachal Pradesh and Professor S.B. Roy, Chairman, IBRAD as well as all the participants. The participants also played a crucial role in deciding the winner in each category through their markings. Based on the presentations following participants were awarded in different categories:

Innovative actions

• A Veera Babu of Andhra Pradesh received the award for best innovative practices for the works carried out in the field of eco-tourism under his leadership and guidance at Kakinada division.
• Pritam Mandi from West Bengal was the first runner up who has involved his group in Sal plantation from eucalyptus plantation through his own initiative.

Problem Solving Activities

• Ajay Chowrasia from Madhya Pradesh is the winner in this category for raising plantation and protecting forests in the totally degraded area of Panna Division.
• Biswanth Paty from Orissa is the first runner up for creating awareness among people for conservation of forests and making people realize the importance of trees.
• Sri Sambhu Singh from Jharkhand as the second runner up for his effort in generating mass awareness among the community people and involving so many households over the years in the forest protection works through ‘raksha bandhan program’. 

Challenging Initiatives:

• Banamali Mondal from West Bengal received the winner award for his challenging initiatives in the Sundarban area of West Bengal especially in conservation of wildlife during Aila.
• Baidyanath Marandi from Orissa was the first runner –up in this category for his work in the mining fringe areas and soil and soil moisture conservation work.
 
• Govind Singh from Madhya Pradesh won the second runners-up award for his effort to reinstate the original natural cover of the area.

Cultural Program

Biswambhar Pramanik of West Bengal received the best prize for Cultural Performances followed by Appa Rao from Andhra Pradesh and Abani Sarkar and EDC members from Sundarban, West Bengal.

Effective Networking

Upendra Prasad Yadav, Bihar received the best networking award for developing the network of Community Leaders of SANCALP in the district of Banka, Bihar through active voluntary participation and series of meetings with the nearby VFC members. He has successfully involved women within the network of SANCALP as well.

Best Actions in the field of Natural Resource Management

• The award for best action went to Chhattisgarh for working in the field of organic cultivation of Non Timber Forest Produces and Value addition of products through community based activities.
• Second prize goes to Andhra Pradesh for promoting soil and water conservation, forest protection and income generation for community members especially         through convergence with MNREGA
• Third prize goes to Madhya Pradesh for working against encroachment victim, plantation and enterprise development.

Special Jury award

Shri Phulchand Netam of Chhattisgarh and Shri Paritosh Saha Babu of West Bengal received the special jury award for their respective contribution in the field of Natural Resource Management.

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success - Henry Ford

Valedictory Program
The esteemed persons present in the valedictory session of the program includes Mr. A.R. Chaddha, Inspector General of Forests, Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi,  Dr. D.K. Sharma, Deputy Inspector General of Forests, Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi and Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Director, e-parliament, New Delhi.

Address by Mr. A.R. Chaddha, Deputy Inspector General of Forests, MoEF

Dr. Chaddha mentioned in his speech that the convention of the Community Leaders is very unique, well structured, and interesting, and the way the program has been designed and made so lively is very appreciable. He also emphasizes on the possibility of its linkages with other centrally sponsored programs to make it more viable and fruitful in the coming years. He extended his invitation to all the participants in the JFM conclave to be held at New Delhi in September, 2011.

Dr. Sanjay Kumar shared with the participants that how community management and related enterprises have expanded in recent years at local levels. Such meeting like SANCALP with community leaders is growing evidence that community-based approaches have unique advantages for rural economic development and forest conservation. He also expressed his hope on such community leadership to assess and restore the eco system services in different agro climatic regions.

 

We cannot undo the past. But we help keep some memories intact.

Plan of Action taken by the participants themselves are as follows:

Andhra Pradesh

• Formation of new SANCALP voluntary members
• SMC works to carry out in and out of the plantation area
• Plantation work in the waste lands
• They will conduct a meeting with the community people and do some village development work voluntarily

Bihar

• They will generate awareness about the importance of NRM
• The Community leaders will try their best to stop illegal felling within the forest area
• Enhance the agricultural productivity
• Development of soil moisture conservation works
• More women participation in the coming years

Chhattisgarh

• To motivate the community people to work for the cause of NRM
• Development of Livelihood generation work
• Protection of wildlife
• To stop illicit felling of trees in the forest area
• To provide training on bamboo cultivation to the community people
• To strengthen the network of SANCALP within the Forest Department as well as in the community people through meetings, follow up, etc.
• Develop the irrigation channels in the state
• Development of the scattered forest area into a dense one with community participation
• Creating awareness among the people regarding the importance of the medicinal plants and its processing
• To share our learning at IBRAD with the community peoples through the program SANCALP and creating awareness among the masses on NRM
• To overcome the problems related to encroachment, illegal felling, grazing, etc.
• Overall development of the village in terms of education, health, agriculture through community participation

 

Gujarat

• To strengthen the newly formed network in the state with more Forest Committee participation
• To motivate people to work for the cause of NRM voluntarily

Jharkhand

• To come up with some successful Soil conservation works
• Conservation of wild animals in a better way
• Developing the network of SANCALP and create awareness about the issues related to sustainable NRM

Karnataka

• Establishment of traditional species gardens at VFC level
• Soil & moisture conservation program
• Promotion of School herbal gardens
• Value adition program for NTFPs and medicinal plants

Madhya Pradesh

• Strengthening of the Forest committee through inclusion of new members in the committee, increasing women participation in the forest protection, empowerment of the self help groups and most importantly development of livelihood generation activities
• Development of livelihood generation works in the village to reduce the pressure over forests land
• To overcome problems related to encroachment with community participation
• To work in the field of water conservation with a proper work plan
• Proper utilization of forest produces
• To increase the rate of literacy among the tribal population
• To involve more & more people in the forest protection and management work from the nearby villages as well

Orissa

• Sustainable Forest protection and management through community participation
• Submission of maximum no. of community forest right claims under FRA 2006
• Water conservation and its proper utilization in agriculture development and kitchen garden
• Wild life protection with the help of community people voluntarily
• Emphasis upon plantation of local species in gap areas of different forests in the area
• Demarcation of forest area and conflict resolution
• Sustainable harvesting and conservation of NTFPs and medicinal plants
• Control and management of soil erosion in the forest area

Tripura

• Apart from conservation and protection of the forests land, we will try to generate more livelihood options from the forests area
• To share our learning from all the states in respect of forest protection and other NRM related activities with our community people in Tripura
• We will take necessary steps to reduce the stress or pressure over nature which we are creating in the name of economic development and will develop our surrounding ecosystem

West Bengal

• To make people more aware about the importance of our natural resources especially forests
• Strengthening of SANCALP network in the state
• Strengthening up of the livelihood generation activities currently undertaken by the community people through more awareness, participation, capacity building, etc

 

Way forward:

At the end of the program participants form a network to promote the cause of natural resource conservation and develop sustainable livelihood options. Each state has three representatives for their state level forum of SANCALP for periodical meeting, sharing experience, documenting the success story form their end.

IBRAD representatives will visit each state to do follow up of the plan of action taken by the community leaders and support the chapter members through capacity building training.  These network members will be part of different action research projects related to micro climate change, livelihood, eco system services through developing social capital.