Creating greener pastures at home
JHARKHAND: As the Deputy Director in the Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR), Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Prajesh Kant Jena has taken it upon himself to check the migration of youth to other states in search of livelihood.
He has come up with an initiative, Hunar se Rozgar, under which youngsters living in local villages are undergoing free 45-day training programmes at two centres within the reserve – Batla and Mandal – to develop proficiency in computer operations, mechanics and various other domains. Girls, for example, are receiving training in sewing, knitting and embroidery.
Ask Jena what the objective of this initiative is, and he explains, 'It's meant to boost the confidence of youngsters living in remote jungles of PTR by developing certain employable skill in them, as most of them are engaged in daily wage labour despite being educated.'
But how did this idea crop up? 'I have noticed through my time here in this reserve that most youngsters living in these jungles either get engaged in traditional forest-related practices or migrate to other states in search of livelihood.'
That's what prompted him to do something that could arrest the trend of youth migration to other states hundreds of kilometres from home. Besides training, the youngsters are also provided with employment opportunities with the help of the NGO partners as part of the initiative.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Officer suspended in HMT land case
Bengaluru: Days after the forest minister's recommendation for action against Indian Forest Service (IFS) officials over denotification of HMT land near Peenya-Jalahalli, the govt Wednesday ordered the suspension of R Gokul, additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Gokul, who is currently director-general of Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI), was suspended with immediate effect, pending inquiry. Gokul, along with other IFS and IAS officials, was accused of filing an interlocutory application (IA) in 2020 before the Supreme Court. The application sought denotification of 443.6 acres of forest land granted to HMT at Peenya-Jalahalli plantation without obtaining the approval of then forest minister or bringing it to the cabinet's notice. Exercising powers under Rule 3 (1) (a) of All-India Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules 1969, the department of personnel and administrative reforms (DPAR) ordered Gokul's suspension. In 2012, while serving as DCF Karwar, Gokul played a key role in exposing the Belekeri port iron ore scam by seizing 3.5 million tonnes of iron ore that was set to be exported illegally from Karnataka.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Cops arrest man for threatening Cong neta Jena
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Capital police on Tuesday arrested a man for allegedly issuing a death threat over phone to senior Congress member Jayadev Jena and attempting to extort Rs 50,000 from him in Feb. The accused, Kulamani Senapati alias Somanath (45), belongs to Keonjhar, Jena's home district. Jena (74), who served as a minister and president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee, filed a police complaint on Feb 3. He reported receiving threatening calls from an unidentified person who demanded money and threatened to kill him if it wasn't paid. Given Jena's political standing, police personnel treated the case with high priority. According to Jena's statement, the caller initially expressed displeasure about his television appearance regarding a political matter before issuing death threats. "During investigation, we found that Somanath, who works as a part-time car driver, destroyed both his phone and SIM card after making the call," said a senior police officer. Police said Somanath had no prior conflicts with Jena nor any political affiliation. "The accused's sole motive was financial gain. He was previously booked in an assault case under Nandipada police station limits," the police officer said.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Time of India
Patuli senior citizens join hands to plant saplings, save trees
Kolkata: Senior citizens in Patuli, who, over the past three decades, have planted and nurtured thousands of trees across the mini-township off EM Bypass, welcomed the prompt action of police against a man who was illegally cutting a mahua tree. Two years ago, cops at the same police station refused to act when citizens complained about 37 trees planted along the median being hacked at night to ensure an unobstructed view of an "I Love Patuli" signage installed along a water body, which has become a popular hangout zone in the evening. "Trees like palash, arjun, and neem were mercilessly cut. Though we filed a complaint on Sept 15, 2023, no action was taken. We felt hurt by the lack of sensitivity displayed by cops. But we are glad that the force's attitude towards tree felling has changed, and they acted against a man for felling a tree on Thursday," said Monoj Mukherjee, a Patuli resident and former senior scientist at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, who has planted over 5,000 trees since he settled in Patuli in 2008. For former bank executive Swapan Biswas, one of his life's passions and missions has been planting trees. Wherever he was posted, including Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Gurgaon, Biswas left his mark with chhatim trees. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dark spots can age you by 10 years! Just take this from Guardian URUHIME MOMOKO Learn More Undo Since moving to Patuli in 1999, he has planted over 400 trees, including chhatim and other flower-bearing species. On Friday, the 77-year-old joined a few others in planting four saplings. "When we came here, Patuli had very few trees. Fortunately, many who took up residence here were aware of the importance of trees and started planting with zeal. Over time, Patuli transformed into one of the greenest neighbourhoods in the city," Biswas said. Ashesh Lahiri, a retired Indian Forest Service officer who lives in Patuli, helped the citizens select and plant trees before monsoon. "Over 130 species of trees were planted. which have transformed Patuli into an oasis in the urban jungle. Though we observed an Aranya Week in Baishnabghata in 1989, it was around a decade later that citizens joined in to begin the greening drive in 1997-98. I moved into the area in 2002-03 and helped with species selection to improve biodiversity," he said.
