Taking a lead on the burning issue of environment protection, women from Nukhuripada, an Odisha village, have taken it upon themselves to protect their surrounding forests and wildlife.

The women from self-help groups gather in huge numbers, going up to hundreds, to discuss and decide how to safeguard their forest resources and wildlife. They hold awareness rallies making others understand the importance of environment protection and conservation.

This is a typical scene at the Nukuripada village in the Bantala forest in the Anugul forest division of the State.

The village has a population of more than 1,500 people and its forest protection committee was formed way back in 2008. This committee was later merged with a neighbouring village protection committee and since then villagers were not able to get much assistance from the concerned department.

It was then the Nukuripada village women decided to take charge. They invited the forest officials for a meeting and discussed and urged them to empower them to take care of the protection. Following this steps were initiated to form a special forest protection committee under the relevant rules.

The forest area is located nearly four kilometres from the village with wild elephants visiting it regularly. Despite the distance and the dangers involved, the women go out in a group wielding sticks daily without fail. They are motivated with the strong desire to save the forests and keep a watch on poachers and thieves.

Praising their efforts, the Bantala Forest Officer of the Anugul district observed: “The forest protection committee is doing an excellent job. The Nukhuripada village women’s forest protection campaign will inspire everyone.”

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