Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) Launches Vanjeevi Didi Initiative for Wildlife Conservation

Key facts

• The south division of the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) introduced the Vanjeevi Didi initiative to involve educated local women in safeguarding forests and wildlife.
• The project was launched on 17 February in the Garu range, initially covering 17 identified villages including Henar, Surkumi, Hasua, Armu, Kotam, and Pandra.
• Under the initiative, 18 women from each village, mostly college graduates or postgraduates, serve as PTR ambassadors to motivate their communities against habitat destruction.
• Each participant, known as a Vanjeevi Didi, receives a monthly incentive of ₹3,000 for their services.
• The ambassadors are also responsible for promoting school enrolment and sharing information about state government employment notices and developmental schemes.
• The initiative is patterned after Sakhi Mandals and is initially scheduled for a two-month period, subject to review for further extension.