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Kulhadi Bandh Panchayat: Know more on this unique campaign which PM Modi spoke on in ‘Mann Ki Baat’

PM Narendra Modi recently spoke on Rajasthan’ Kulhadi Bandh Panchayat’ in his 112th edition of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme. Do you know the significance of this project?

This was the Panchayat – due to which the second part of Ranthambore forest (Karauli) was saved and the forest was restored yet again.

This unique panchayat was established around 32 years back when the forests here started dwindling in size due to the sheep menace and hence the project was launched. 

At that time, a large number of people from Marwar used to travel to MP with herds (flock of sheep and goats) via Sawai Madhopur, Karauli and Dholpur.

As a part of Kaila Devi forest also came here, permits were issued by the Forest Department to pass through this track. Meanwhile, it was found that while going through the forest, villagers started camping here for two to three months and allowed their cattle to graze in this forest.

As the leaves started depleting because of the sheep, villagers started chopping the trees.
In 1991, the monsoon grass got depleted in the winter itself.

Here, when the grass started getting depleted, the villagers also started cutting the branches of the Dhok trees and took them away. The fodder and leaves for the cattle started getting depleted. Only the trunks were visible in place of the trees.

The forest department team and the villagers started getting worried seeing the lush green forests getting destroyed. The villagers said that strictness should be imposed on taking axes in the forest. But, it was not possible to make rules for any one village.

So it was decided that a campaign would be started with the help of the forest department and local villagers. 32 years ago in the year 1991, it was decided in the Panchayat that now there will be strictness on carrying axes in these forests. If anyone takes an axe to the forest, he will be fined Rs 500 by the Forest Department and the Panchayat.

Along with this, to make people aware, it was also decided that whoever gives information about those carrying axes in the forest will be given a reward of Rs 100.

During this period, about 20 people were caught carrying axes and were fined Rs 500. Out of these Rs 500, Rs 100 was given as a reward to the informer and the rest was the revenue of the department.

In just two years, this area of ​​Kaila Devi and Dang started becoming green again. Once again, greenery started spreading in it like before. However, this idea of ​​the Panchayat remained confined to this Tiger Reserve.

While talking about tiger conservation on International Tiger Day, PM Modi said – “The ‘Kulhadi Bandh Panchayat’ campaign which started from Ranthambore in Rajasthan has an interesting story. The local communities themselves have taken an oath that they will not go to the forest with an axe and will not cut trees. Due to this one decision, the forests here have become green once again. A better environment is being created for tigers.”

The reason for this Panchayat, which started 32 years ago, is yet again interesting.

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