10 hours ago
Call to make use of services of 14 SARPA educators in Ernakulam
Educational institutions, including anganwadis, can avail themselves of the services of educators of SARPA (Snake Awareness Rescue and Protection App), a digital platform of the Forest department for matters related to snakes and snake bites, to keep the institutions safe, according to rescuers.
Recently, two SARPA educators visited an anganwadi in Kakkanad following media reports of a child being bitten by a viper. However, when they showed anganwadi workers the pictures of snakes, it emerged that it was not a viper but a non-venomous Russell's Wolf Snake.
'Later, on the request of the ICDS [Integrated Child Development Services] authorities, we conducted an awareness class for all anganwadi workers in the Edappally block. We covered aspects such as how to avoid attracting snakes, how to deal with snakes, and what to do in the event of a snake bite, despite all precautions. We taught them how to educate anganwadi children not to approach snakes out of curiosity while not creating a phobia against snakes,' said Sreenivas P. Kamath, district facilitator of SARPA, Ernakulam.
SARPA has 14 educators in the district who will be deployed to conduct awareness classes on demand. SARPA educators conduct a safety audit at educational institutions before classes begin in the new academic year. Such an audit was done in over 40 schools in the district this year.
'We approach the school authorities and parent-teacher associations, volunteering to carry out safety audits in schools, citing the possibility of snakes taking refuge in classrooms during the summer recess for two months. We do a combing of classrooms and suggest steps to address conditions congenial for snakes to take harbour,' said Mr. Kamath.
SARPA volunteers could be alerted on sighting snakes, which they would rescue. 'However, we recommend that non-venomous snakes not be rescued since their presence would be helpful to keep away the venomous ones, considering the territorial habits of snakes. For instance, they consume snakelets of venomous snakes sneaking into their territories, Mr. Kamath said.
