West Bengal
Awareness and Skill Transfer Programme for the Treatment of Snakebite Victims
The West Bengal State Office of WWF-India (WBSO) organized a workshop on the “Awareness and Skill Transfer Programme for the Treatment of Snakebite Victims” in Gosaba block of Sundarban on March 23, 2007. Prior to the workshop, a meeting of the introductory group was organized on March 9, 2007, with the local paramedical staff (quacks, ‘Ojha’ and ‘Gunin’) who attend the local patients; 42 such persons were selected from 14 panchayats to participate in this workshop funded by the Sundarban Development Board, government of West Bengal.The programme was inaugurated by Mr. Ardhendu Sen, Principal Secretary of SDB in presence of Mr. Avijit Choudhury, Member secretary, SDB; WWF state committee members; medical practitioner from government hospital; Mrs. Saswati Sen, Director–in-charge WBSO; and Mr. Dipak Mitra, the renowned herpetologist and founder of Kolkata Snake Park.
A handout describing local venomous snakes, their identification guides, prevention of snakebites, primary treatment for snakebite victims etc was also released at the workshop. Medical kits and anti-venom serum were also distributed to the participants.
WBSO conducts workshop on Wetlands
The West Bengal State Office (WBSO) of WWF-India, in association with West Bengal Pollution Control Board, organized a day-long workshop and field trip on the importance of Wetlands earlier this month.
Organized in Bible Society, the programme started with an illustrated slide show on the “Importance of East Calcutta Wetlands” by Dr. Subir Ghosh - eminent wetland ecologist. In his presentation, Dr. Ghosh explained the importance of wetlands, history of Ramsar Convention, India’s role in that, urgency of protecting these wetlands and importantly the relation between human and wetlands with respect to livelihood generation.
The next part of the programme was presented by Dr. Sangita Mitra, Senior Project Officer of WBSO, who discussed the significance of “Daily life Wildlife” with the help of an educational kit prepared by Zoo Outreach Organization, Coimbatore, with support from Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, U. K.
The last segment of the programme was a field trip to East Calcutta Wetlands where Dr. Ghosh introduced the participants to the natural features of a wetland, its function in filtrating the urban waste and also harboring the biological diversity.
Around 100 students and teachers from different schools of Kolkata participated in the programme.
West Bengal State Office participates in wildlife film festival
The West Bengal State Office (WBSO) of WWF-India participated in a wildlife film festival oragnised by “Aranayk” in collaboration with Forest Department, Government of West Bengal. Inaugurated by the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, opened with slide shows, seminars and photographic exhibition.WBSO had a pavilion in this festival which was inaugurated by Mr. Ananta Roy, Forest Minister of West Bengal. It was attended by other concerned officials like the Commissioner of Police, Field Director of Sundarban Tiger Reserve and WWF representatives. The festival ended with the presentation of "Green Globe" awards to the best photographers.
WBSO Organizes Plantation Drive
West Bengal State Office (WBSO) of WWF-India, initiated a plantation drive in Kolkata at sites which recently lost all plant cover due to the construction of fly-overs, roads, and multi-storied buildings etc. The programme was formally inaugurated by Mr. Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya, Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation at the Park Circus, one of the busiest traffic junctions in the city.United Commercial Bank, Kolkata supported the programme and Mr. V. Sridhar, Chairman & Managing Director, UCO Bank was present on this occasion to join hands with Honourable Mayor and WWF staff in planting the saplings
Lt. Col. SR Banerjee, Ms. Saswati Sen, Ms. Sangita Mitra, Mr. Samit Bhowmik and other employees of WWF-India were also present on the occasion. Teachers and nature club members from different schools participated and promised to help in further monitoring of the plants in vicinity of their respective academic institutes.
World Environment Day Celebrations
West Bengal State Office of WWF-India organized a special programme on the occasion of World Environment Day in association with the Indian Museum, Kolkata. The chief guest of the programme, Mr. Mohanto Chatterjee, Minister in Charge, Department of Environment, Government of West Bengal, released the special World Environment Day 2006 souvenir. The programme was well-attended by WWF- government officials, members of the civil society and WWF-India supporters.In addition, WWF staff members actively participated in other major World Environment Day celebrations across the city like the ones organized by East Calcutta Medical Club, American Centre and the West Bengal Pollution Control Board.
