Dashraman villagers set unique example of human bond with nature
   Date :06-Jan-2020

Dashraman villagers set u
 
By Ashish Rajput :
 
Population of around 3,000 villagers paid serious attention on protection of birds and also take care of their nesting by avoiding bonfire near nesting trees and any kind of anti-natural activity in the village 
 
Declining graph of arrival of migratory birds mirrors the changing ecology of wetlands located in and around the district but residents of Dashraman village set a perfect example of the union of humans with the migratory birds. This village is situated between Sihora and Kundam development blocks falling in Katni district. Flocks of colourful water bird ‘Painted Stork’ which is under Near Threatened (NT) category arrives at this area from Himalayan range and other parts of South East Asia covering distance of more than 1,000 kilometres during October every year.
 
These birds migrate from hilly areas primarily due to snowfall in search of feed and mating in wetlands during winter season. After hatching the eggs and growth of chicks, birds returned with the onset of summer till March. Nesting of Painted Storks were commonly seen near wetlands in Panagar, Gosalpur and Sihora development blocks but the identified spots of sighting migratory birds becoming abandoned following the changing climatic conditions and human interference.
 
On the other hand, there is no change in arrival of Painted Stork birds in Dashraman village due to kind heartedness of villagers who have a strong bond and sentimental attachment with these birds since many decades. Population of around 3,000 villagers paid serious attention on protection of birds and also take care of their nesting by avoiding bonfire near nesting trees and any kind of anti-natural activity in the village. Taking care of these guests is a tradition in Dashraman village which is lovingly being followed by generations.
 
Villages have a strong belief that arrival of migratory birds is the sign of prosperity and reducing their numbers or absence is a bad-omen for the residents and village. Influenced with the story of Dashraman village, nature loving kids Avisha Shrivastava and Archi Shrivastava, students of class 9th made a short film named ‘Living with Water Fowl’ which was premiered during International Science Film Festival of India. The film was produced by Avisha and directed by Archi with the help of their uncle and nature lover, Prashant Shrivastava, a Teacher of Government School in Mandla district.
 
Naturalist Shankarendu Nath, while talking to ‘The Hitavada’, informed that several ponds in Khamaria, Pasnora village, Bandhikalan village, Tilni reservoir, Gandhigram in Panagar and Gosalpur were known are best spots of sighting migratory birds. In past couple of years, bird watchers disappointed from not having a glimpse of several species of migratory birds at different water bodies and forest areas in Jabalpur. Destruction of natural habitat, overexploitation of natural resources, pollution and climate change emerged as major threats to migratory birds in the region.