Natural Resources Management: / Land Water Management
The environment is everything that surrounds us, whereas ecology is how all those elements work together. The changes in the environment now alter the natural cycles and climatic conditions, affecting human life and livelihoods. We initiated efforts to address the problems originating from environmental issues through people’s participation.
In Nabarangpur district, 332 hectares of private land under the MGNREGS – OTELP Plus program were planted mostly with fruit-bearing species, creating community assets. In Dhenkanal district, 2300 sanitary latrines were constructed for BPL families, along with 10 km of road covered under avenue plantation involving school students. Water harvesting and soil-moisture conservation mini-structures were also constructed. Through its sister organization, PAWP (People’s Area Water Partnership), Community-Based Forest Conservation Committees were formed and introduced to the state forest authorities. Wildlife protection and the community’s role in it were inculcated among the tribals and others in the region as a complement to natural livelihoods.
Management of natural resources, including land, water, and forest, is central to the project. During the reporting period, the organization took several steps to improve water supply to agricultural fields. Activities like gully plugging, treatment of degraded land, construction of percolating wells, and dug wells were undertaken for the sustainable use of natural resources. Forest protection committees were formed and strengthened to protect the forest cover in the project area. During the reporting period, the organization achieved the following milestones:

Activity Details and Numbers:

• No. of Dug Wells: 33
• Degraded Land Treated: 169.5 hectares
• Stag Strench: 12.5 hectares
• No. of Farm Ponds: 138

OTHER SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Programme on Water and Sanitation
BAHIRKANCHALI SRISTI EDUCATIONAL SOCEITY continued its program on water and sanitation. The organization worked with the District Water and Sanitation Mission to promote household latrines to discourage open defecation. We facilitated the installation of more than 300 individual latrines in the districts of Nabarangpur and Dhenkanal. Several innovative IEC activities were also undertaken to motivate the people to use sanitary latrines instead of engaging in open defecation. Similarly, the organization also worked to disinfect contaminated water sources.

Programme on Environment and Climate Change
Protecting the sensitive ecological balance is crucial for the survival of humankind. But for the past few years, there has been mindless destruction of the forest cover. BAHIRKANCHALI SRISTI EDUCATIONAL SOCEITY is working with the community to make people aware of the harmful consequences of depleting forest cover. During the reporting period, extensive campaigns were undertaken to protect the mangrove forest cover, which serves as the lung of the state of WB. The people living in and around the mangrove forest in the districts of Dhenkanal and Nabarangpur were trained to adopt alternative livelihoods to save their forests and ensure sustainability. About 1,000 school children were also involved in spreading awareness about climate change, so they could imbibe a sense of responsibility for protecting their forests. The organization also raised a community nursery at Kankadahad and distributed more than 10,000 saplings for backyard plantation among the people.