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 Munda Gram Sabha (GS) controls and
maintains the forest. However they are very weak in many villages in
Arki block. It is found that cutting of trees goes unchecked in
villages having weak GS. Such GS has no control over the protection
of forest. People within the village and outside have a free will.
This is one of the major causes for depletion of forest cover.
Realizing such grave issues, AID took up initiative to strengthen
the Gram Sabha.
Today AID provides training to panchayat leaders. The focus for
capacity building is to help them to manage forest in their own
traditional way. They are taught how best they can deal with the
forest protection and its promotion problems. The major trust is
livelihood improvement. It is based on Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP).
Remarkable change could
be seen today due to the sincere effort by AID. Earlier, in Gram
Sabha, villagers used to talk about local and pity issues. About
forest matter, they talked only about giving permission to villagers
to cut trees. Now protection and promotion of forest is in their
agenda at regular weekly meetings.
Case Study:
Awareness balancing the eco system
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Women are the most
unsecured group within a village. So the purpose of SHG is to make
women stand in their own society. SHGs have been formed and made
strong by AID. Today, women are expert in saving and bookkeeping.
They go to bank without fear to open an account. They use their
saving for inter loaning. It is of great help for the villagers.
Training is given to link livelihood and forest. SHGs are working
along with male groups in a village. However more need for healthy
male–female relationship is required.