Across India, conservation is being reimagined through people-centric approaches that link ecology with livelihoods. At Jharkhand’s Palamau Tiger Reserve, that shift is visible on the ground.
In the second part of this in-depth conversation, Prajesh Kanta Jena, Deputy Director (North), speaks about initiatives that have empowered women, trained youth, and turned communities into active partners in forest protection.
“Conservation cannot survive on enforcement alone,” he says. “It must create dignity and opportunity.”
Watch the interview here:
HUNAR SE ROZGAR
One of the most strategic interventions has been the “Hunar Se Rozgar” programme. Designed to reduce dependence on forest extraction, it focused on skill-building and alternative livelihoods.
“When income comes from skills rather than extraction, pressure on forests reduces naturally,” Mr. Jena explains.
Training programmes equipped local youth and villagers with employable skills connected to tourism and services. As incomes diversified, reliance on fuelwood collection and other forest-based extraction declined.
YOUTH AT THE FRONTLINE OF ECOTOURISM
Young men and women were trained as safari guides, drivers, and service providers. The shift was more than economic—it was psychological.
“When a young person becomes a guide, the forest becomes his or her workplace. That changes attitudes immediately,” he observes.
Youth who once saw forests as distant government property began to see them as shared assets. The change in perception has strengthened informal vigilance and pride in protecting wildlife.
THE FIRST WOMEN SAFARI GUIDE
A landmark moment came with the introduction of the first woman safari guide in the reserve. The move challenged long-held norms.
“Initially, there was hesitation,” Mr. Jena admits. “But once the community saw competence and confidence, acceptance followed.”
Women stepping into traditionally male roles such as guiding and driving faced social resistance and self-doubt. Training, mentoring, and administrative backing ensured they stayed the course.
The initiative evolved further with “Pink Panther”, a platform that reshaped women’s identity in conservation. Women were no longer silent participants; they became visible ambassadors of the forest economy.
COMPOST DIDIS AND CULTURAL MOVEMENTS
Innovation extended beyond tourism. The idea of Compost Didis emerged as a practical response to forest fires. By training women in composting and organic waste management, dry biomass was reduced, lowering fire risks.
Culture, too, became a conservation tool. Movements like Van Devi worship and Vriksha Raksha Bandhan connected faith with forest protection.
“Culture succeeds where enforcement struggles,” Mr. Jena reflects. “When protection becomes emotional, compliance follows naturally.”
CHILDREN, BAMBOO, AND THE FUTURE
Under the “Abua Todang, Abua Ayo” bamboo initiative, children were actively involved in plantation efforts. The idea was simple: ownership begins early.
“If children plant and nurture bamboo, they grow up seeing themselves as protectors,” he says.
Asked whether the Palamau model can be replicated, Mr. Jena responds thoughtfully: “The principles can—community ownership, livelihood linkage, and cultural integration. But every landscape must adapt it to its context.”
In Palamau, conservation is no longer imposed. It is owned by women guides, trained youth, Compost Didis, and children planting bamboo. And when communities become custodians, forests gain their strongest allies.
