Gadchiroli April 6 (District Correspondent) The BA final students of Geography Department of Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Gadchiroli run by Shree Saibaba Gramin Vikas Sanstha, visited village Mendha Lekha in Dhanora taluka recently and conducted social-economic survey of the village.
The initiative was taken up under the guidance of Head of Geography Department and In charge Principal of the college. During the survey, social worker Devaji Tofa told the students about the activities and characteristics of Mendha Lekha village.
‘Mendha Lekha’ has become the first village in the country to accept the claim of collective rights over the forest in the village area. This claim was accepted on 28 August 2009. The village is 28 km from Gadchiroli district headquarters. The population of this village is around 500. The forest area of the village is 1,806 hectares and the agricultural area is 87 hectares. The village has acquired individual rights over the farm land and collective rights over the forest, it was informed during the visit.
On December 13, 2009, the collective forest rights record was handed over to the Gram Sabha by the then Governor. The importance of Gram Sabha in this village, its powers and implementation has been demonstrated to the entire country.
The student surveyors learned about the progress of each family during their survey. The students can carry out the awareness by keeping an ideal of this village before their eyes and the model can be implemented in other villages too, said Dr. Yogesh Patil while speaking on the occasion. Dr. Kundan Dufare and the residents of Mendha Lekha village extended necessary help in this task.
Photo The students are seen with Mr. Dewaji Tofa, Dr. Yogesh Patil and Kundan dufare.
