https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Corbett to Sell Souvenirs Made by Villagers to Reduce Their Dependency on Forest

Corbett Tiger Reserve is giving training in making souvenirs to more than 300 villagers. It is being done to generate alternative income for the villagers who live in the fringe areas. The products made by them will be sold as original souvenirs of Corbett with a trademark logo.
Indian Masterminds Stories

To encourage alternative income generation activities for the villagers living in fringe villages of Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand, forest officials are giving them training to to make souvenirs, which will be sold as original souvenirs of Corbett. It is a step towards ecological conservation as well as participatory governance. The souvenirs will also have a trademark logo of Corbett to lend authenticity,and will represent the culture of Uttrakhand and carry forest conservation messages.

More than 300 villagers will be given this training. And the good thing is, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has given clearance to set up bamboo outlets at the entry gate and other points in the park to sell the souvenirs.

Indian Masterminds interacted with 2004-batch IFS officer and Field Director of Corbett Tiger Reserve, Dr. Dheeraj Pandey, to get more details about this initiative.

IFS Dheeraj Pandey

SOUVENIR INITIATIVE

The villagers chosen for the training are members of eco-development committees of Corbett who lives in the buffer areas of park. The main idea behind this initiative is to generate alternative income for the villagers and reduce their dependency on forest areas.

Dr Pandey said, “In the fringe areas of Corbett Park, there are frequent human-wildlife conflict. We are now trying to provide an alternative employment to the people who are directly affected by the conflict and trying to end their dependence on forest areas. First, we are training them in the art of making souvenirs, and, then, whatever profit will be made on that souvenir will be given to the maker. We have already submitted the Corbett logo, that the souvenirs will carry, for trademark registration.”

TRAINING WOMEN

For the training, which started in October, the reserve administration is working closely with the Eco-Development Committees (EDC), which the villagers are part of.

“There are about 40 committees, out of which, 20 committees are doing this work directly by joining us. The women members of these committees are also taking the training. About 50 of them were trained in the first phase and 60 are being trained now. We will give training to a total of 300 women,” Dr Panday said.

PROFIT SHARING MODEL

This is a profit sharing model which will be beneficial for the villagers. They will be provided free of cost raw material EDCs through foundations and NGOs. They also get to keep the profitsof the sales. “A nominal percentage will also go to the shop owners, but the major part will go to the makers and will be directly transferred to their accounts,” said Mr. Panday.

CULTURE REPRESENTATION

The souvenirs will be sold at shops at the entry gates of the park and even nearby shops. And all souvenirs will carry a trademark Corbett logo. The products are diversified, representing the culture of Uttarakhand, promoting forest conservation, and representing the common people of the state. “We did a preliminary study on what tourists want as souvenirs, and on that basis, we are making a range of diversified products that also include local handicrafts,” Mr. Panday informed.

This will serve two purposes. It will promote the local culture of Uttarakhand by linking it to conservation. And, tourists will happily take home a Corbett souvenir with a distinct local stamp and an important conservation message.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Bhind DM
Bhind Collector Caught on Camera Slapping Student During Exam, Incident Sparks Outrage
IAS Raju Mishra
Raju Mishra Appointed Special Secretary in West Bengal Industry Department
406951-supreme-court-of-india-sc
Centre Files Review Petition Against Supreme Court’s Order on IPS Deputation in CAPFs
J P Singh
IPS Dr J P Singh Takes Voluntary Retirement; Likely to Contest Bihar Assembly Elections from Chhapra - Know More About Him
Pushkar-Singh-Dhami
Uttarakhand: Ambedkar Bhawan Ready in Rudrapur to Empower SC Artisans; Three-Tier Audit Committee Formed Before Handover
CM Nitish Kumar
From Welfare to Wealth: Bihar Unveils CSR Policy 2025 - A Game-Changer for Private Sector Investment in Public Welfare
Ladli Behna Yojana Madhya Pradesh
MP CM Mohan Yadav Announces Rs 1543 Cr Aid for Ladli Sisters, Vows Pucca House for Every Beneficiary
Uttar Pradesh livestock development
UP Leads in Milk Output, CM Yogi Unveils National Workshop to Promote Indigenous Breeds
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Ravi Kapoor
Why Ex-IRS Officer Ravi Kapoor Walked Away from Power
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-07 at 3.15
The Martial Artist IRS Officer Who Conquered North East India on a Cycle
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-03 at 13.33
IRS Sanjay Bahadur: The Officer With a Pen That Bites | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Sushmitha and Ishwarya Ramanathan
Their Home Was Washed Away — Sushmitha & Ishwarya Built a Legacy Instead
Sushmitha and Ishwarya lost their home to the 2004 tsunami. But with books, belief, and each other, they...
IAS SHWETA BHARTI Bihar
From Wipro to Civil Services: How Bihar's IAS Shweta Bharti Juggled a BPSC Job While Preparing for UPSC
IAS Shweta Bharti, from rural Bihar, balanced a full-time job and UPSC prep with discipline, cracked...
IPS Deepak Meghani
Deepak Meghani, IPS: A Journey of Focus, Failure, and Quiet Discipline
A passionate writer, he has authored several books in Gujarati, ranging from exam strategy guides to...
Social Media
Standing Leopard
Leopard Stuns Internet by Standing on Two Legs Like a Meerkat
A rare video of a leopard standing on two legs in Kruger Park stuns viewers and goes viral across social...
G S Roshni
Kerala’s Fearless Forest Officer G.S. Roshni Rescues 16-Foot King Cobra with Bare Hands, Garners Praise & Critique
Beat Forest Officer G.S. Roshni’s first-ever king cobra rescue goes viral, earning her the title of ‘Green...
Kaziranga Baby Elephant
Chotu the Baby Elephant Reunited with Mother in Kaziranga: Retired IFS Officer’s Post Goes Viral
A baby elephant's emotional reunion with its mother in Kaziranga, shared by retired IFS officer Susanta...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Bhind DM
Bhind Collector Caught on Camera Slapping Student During Exam, Incident Sparks Outrage
IAS Raju Mishra
Raju Mishra Appointed Special Secretary in West Bengal Industry Department
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Ravi Kapoor
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-07 at 3.15
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-03 at 13.33
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT