Pashoo Pakshee and its founder Savini Sonavaria always fascinates me. From creating awareness about wildlife, forests, and tribes through their products, to help preserve traditional skill sets, to supporting close to 250 artisans across India, Savini has not only provided a sustainable livelihood opportunity to the most vulnerable of our community members across protected areas but also helped change mindsets socially as well as environmentally, thereby bringing people both in the rural and urban space, closer to nature. For this, she is our Green Warrior of the Month.
Could you tell our readers about your journey, and what inspired you to initiate alternate livelihoods for community members around tiger reserves under the ambit of Pashoo Pakshee?
Ever since I can remember I have been a nature lover and a wildlife enthusiast. My love for it only grew as I got to know more about it. I had done a couple of safaris with family and friends and I remember that I used to be super keen to buy wildlife souvenirs from the gift shops. Almost all of it was loud t-shirts, mugs & plastic keyrings.
In 2013 when I was completing my master’s in Engineering, I chose to do a cross-functional thesis with Nature Conservation Foundation to write an algorithm on bird call recognition. During the project, I interacted with a lot of conservation scientists and researchers and learnt about the pressing issue of man-animal conflict and the need to provide alternative livelihoods to communities who shared space with wildlife. This led me to the idea that why can’t communities living in the national park make souvenirs for the constant flow of tourists that visit these parks?
In 2016, I mustered the courage to leave the comfort of corporate life and become a full-time social entrepreneur. During my experimentation days, I was lucky to get a chance at the CSR team of Urvi Ashok Piramal Foundation which was starting a project at Pench TR near Nagpur. They saw the prototypes I had created and asked me to come and train the communities there. As of today, we are a team of 10 with designers, trainers, and operations all of who know, and understand community engagement, and are just as passionate as me to work with our women artisans.
What are the different landscapes you are working in, and what is the inspiration behind choosing these?
We work primarily with communities living near protected forests, who tend to be heavily dependent on forest resources and face wildlife conflicts daily due to their proximity to the forests, or even their way of life. As of today, we have centers in Pench, Kanha, and Panna Tiger Reserves.
How do community-driven initiatives make a difference in the conservation of our landscapes and the denizens living within?
Communities living near forests are heavily dependent on forest resources to sustain their way of life often ending up in cross purposes with conservation projects, forest departments, and wildlife tourism. Providing alternative livelihoods such as these helps them wean off using forest resources as it gets them the much-needed income to offset livestock and farm losses, and in turn, feel included in conservation and tourism activities. This not only inculcates a sense of pride for their forests but creates a win-win situation for man and wildlife conservation.
What are the different ways in which PashooPakshee introduces people to the craft put together by community members?
We have 3 major sales avenues to support the livelihood initiatives.
- Bulk orders from the tourism sector, providing merchandise to hotels, tour operators, forest departments, etc.
- An online platform that not only supports 4 of our initiatives but also supports products from other wildlife organizations, artists, and wildlife communicators.
- We have recently started our very first souvenir shop at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, which is called Crafts for Conservation. Where again, we not only retail our products but house products from 13 different wildlife organizations.
How have such initiatives helped strengthen people-wildlife relationships? Has there been a change in the mindset of community members towards forests and conservation owing to such initiatives?
Mindset changes are slow and difficult. It takes about 1 to 5 years to get skilled, 5 to 10 years for behavioural change, and more than 10 years to see a mindset change.
At PashooPakshee we recognize this journey and hence emphasize very high-quality skilling not only in the craft but all in soft skills. We have seen women go from being inaudible to conducting Crafts workshops, we have seen a behavioural change from girls choosing the Silai center over going into the forest to collect Tendu ‘Patta’ (leaves) or roadside labour work. We have also seen the mindset change of families by allowing the girls to become financially independent instead of forcing them to get married at an early age. Lastly, we have seen mothers change their kids’ schools from Municipal to Private schools to provide them with better quality education. It’s a slow change, but it’s a good change that has been happening gradually over the last 7 years. Apart from personal changes, such initiatives also impact the way the community perceives wildlife and wildlife tourism. They look at it as an avenue for prosperity rather than a hindrance.
What is the support needed to make alternate livelihoods sustainable in the long run?
It takes about 5 years for a livelihood project to run smoothly. It requires partner organizations who know the landscape, understand community dynamics and provide a steady channel of motivation. Such initiatives also need significant funds especially till the center starts sustaining itself. However, the most important support needed is a strong and regular sales channel, without which, no amount of funds or staff can convert an initiative into being successful and making a change on the ground.
Please share your favourite anecdote of working with community members and what has been your most memorable experience of putting together a product or a centre.
In 2021 we received a massive opportunity to set up a craft center with the support of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board. It took us 3 months from brainstorming to planning to execution. Not only was it the biggest setup my small team of 8 had done, but what was interesting was that setting it up allowed us to connect with so many people in the village.
The electrician, the plumber, the postman, the painter, the carpenter, daily labourers, homestay owners, etc. In a way, it became a project of the village, and everyone was looking forward to it. Everyone wanted to help or be a part of it in some way. I have noticed craft centers don’t only impact artisans who work with you but also impact the entire community due to the various services rendered. For example, village postmen are only used to carrying small envelopes, but with a livelihood center nearby he has to start moving around production boxes which has increased the income of his small post office as well.
What would be your message to people/ upcoming organizations who also want to promote/work with craft as an alternate livelihood opportunity?
Be very patient. Do not assume you know better. There is a lot more to learn from our communities than you can offer them. Equal opportunities also mean equal rules. Run the programs with a well-thought-out set of guidelines. Always remember that livelihood opportunities are a means to provide dignity and not charity.
By Bhavna Menon
Author: Jaun Shahi
Journalist, Sub-Editor, Travellers’ World Jaun is a soft-spoken and gentle soul who thrives as a Journalist with his exceptional observation skills and an eye for intricate details. He is a true multitasker who efficiently handles various tasks and always brings a professional approach to everything he does. His genuine team spirit makes him an integral part of the TW family, as he consistently collaborates and supports his colleagues.
