BARIPADA: The forest department will soon launch a campaign to create awareness about the need to protect sal trees and sal forests, said regional conservator of forest and field director of Similipal Tiger Reserve Prakash Chand Gogineni.

Speaking to The New Indian Express on the sidelines of a Jungle Raskha Bandhan event at Hatimada in Suliapada district, Gogineni said he had come across some forests where sal trees had been cut down for various reasons, including to make traditional toothbrushes (dantakathi) from their wood.

The forest dwellers have been cutting down trees for quite some time without realising their importance. Now it is time for the trees to be saved by the residents, especially members of the Santhal tribal community, he said.

The department will take the initiative to protect the roots and plants of Sal and the efforts will bear fruit if sufficient awareness is created among the local tribal people, the RCCF said.

Baripada DFO T Uma Mahesh said the Jungle Raksha Bandhan event organised by Mayurbhanj Swachhasevi Samukhya was launched to involve women in the protection of sal forests and forest fire prevention, which had proved to be a challenge for the forest department.

MSS President Vivekananda Pattnaik said the organisation has been organising the event for 22 years.

Ganjam women’s gesture for the nation’s guardians

BERHAMPUR: Women of Ganjam showed their love and affection for their brothers in the armed forces, police, health and fire services by sending them rakhis on Raksha Bandhan. At least 25 members of the women’s wing of the Kalinga Vysya Sangha made 500 innovative rakhis using grains and spices like rice, mung bean, ragi, mustard etc. which were sent to armed forces personnel. “We have been making such rakhis for the last three years and sending them to the soldiers,” said Roja Subudhi, president of the women’s wing of the Kalinga Vysya Sangha. She added that natural colours were used in making the rakhis.