Sales counter for Organic vegetables

Rajahata (Sonada), Darjeeling : Residents of this village, around 20km from Darjeeling town, have built a sales counter for organic vegetables in association with the forest department.

According to forest officials, the counter will provide an alternative source of livelihood, thus drawing people away from poaching and timber smuggling in the adjacent Senchel Wildlife Sanctuary.

“We provided a sum of Rs 50,000 to the Rajahata Eco Development Committee (EDC) and they contributed an equal share by working voluntarily for the project,” said U.S. Tamang, range officer, Senchel.

The funds were provided by the Bengal wildlife department under the North Bengal Forest Project head, which is an extension of the joint forest management programme.

The counter, which is located along to NH 55, was inaugurated by officials of Darjeeling Wildlife (Division-I) a few days ago. The facility will be used to market vegetables like radish, cabbage, cauliflower, beans grown by the 35 families in the village.

The stall was designed by Keshar Rai, a 55-year-old mason, who had lost his right hand in a crude bomb explosion. It was Rai, who acted as the head mason and led the team of volunteers in building the concrete and stone structure that has its interiors panelled with wood.

“It was a wonder to see him working. As the head mason of the project, he would first stick a nail with his left hand and than use it to drive in the nail. The way he went about working with stones with just one hand was also amazing,” said Tamang.

A shy Rai maintained that he had no problems in setting up the structure. “I am used to it and I do not feel handicapped by my loss.”

The forest department is in the process of identifying “disturbed” areas along the forest and encouraging residents from entering the forest and indulging in illegal activities.

“Earlier we used to get about 10-15 cases of illegal poaching or felling every year from this village. After holding meetings with them such incidents have practically stopped. The villagers are now concentrating on farming,” said Tamang. The Senchel Wildlife Sanctuary is home to animals like the clouded leopard, Himalayan black bear, barking deer, black barking deer and rabbits.

This is the first project that has been taken up by the EDC of this village. They have formed self-help groups with six members each and will be running the counter by turns.

“A bank account has been opened for the EDC and the profits from the sale of vegetables will be deposited in this account. This will later be distributed among the villagers to buy seeds and other things needed for agriculture,” said Tamang.

Source: The Telegraph