ERODE, JUNE 26
With the twin objectives of uplifting the socio-economic conditions of tribals and get rid of an invasive weed, Lantana Camara, that has spread through many forest ecosystems across India, Erode District Administration has been imparting training to the tribals to earn wealth from waste and also given them mobile connectivity. It is also planning to produce fuel briquettes from Lantana Camara in eco-friendly manner, says a senior official of the district.
A team of dedicated officials led by District Collector H Krishnanunni, Additional Collector (Development) and Project Director, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) L Madhubalan, and District Forest Officer Kiruba Shankar has been working relentlessly in the district which comprise three forest divisions – Thalavadi, Hasanur and Bargur – with missionary zeal in this endeavour.
- A team of dedicated officials led by District Collector H Krishnanunni has been working relentlessly in the district which comprise three forest divisions – Thalavadi, Hasanur and Bargur – with missionary zeal in this endeavour.
- The District Administration is on the process of providing job opportunity for the tribals under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
Under this project, twenty-three products like sofa set, chairs, book shelf, flower basket, round table, footwear stand etc, made out of Lantana Camara, an invasive species that threatens forest areas, by the tribals of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) are ready for marketing.
The district administration, under the Tamil Nadu Vazhndu Kattuvom Project, trained 80 tribals, both women and men at the centres run by Adivasi Munnetra Sangam. Experts from Asoka Trust for Research into Ecology and the Environment, Bengaluru, and World Wildlife Fund trained the people to make furniture out of Common Lantana.
The weed is uprooted from forest areas and the sticks are bundled and boiled and the bark peeled off. The sticks are shaped to make dustbin, cloth box, basket, book shelf, sofa sets, round table, footwear stand, tea plate, flower basket and plate stands
For making the tribals lives better, the District Collector has roped in the services of a private telecom company and installed mobile towers one each at Bargur Hill and Talavadi. Thus the long-standing demand of the people in hilly has finally been fulfilled.
Earlier, in the absence of connectivity, people were unable to avail ambulance services or others during emergencies while students were not able to attend online classes.
The District Collector has been ably assisted by people-centric L Madhubalan, Additional Collector (Development)/Project Director, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), is a. His frequent visits in the Thalavadi, Hasanur and Bargur hills for implementing rural development plans making tribal lives much better than before. He is known for his prompt response for the betterment of the tribes.
Kiruba Shankar, IFS, District Forest Officer, Sathyamangalam taking care of lantana artisians to the next level by giving them the need of the hour support.
The District Administration is on the process of providing job opportunity for the tribals under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The District Administration had organized a three-day Adivasi Expo on April 5, 6 and 7 this year at PKR Arts College for Women, Gobichettipalayam, in the district.
