A training programme and workshop was organised recently for Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) and Eco-Tourism Management Committees (ETMCs) operating in the Nilgiris forest division.
The three ETMCs and seven EDCs are run by tribal communities in different parts of the Nilgiris, and the event was organised to emphasise the gains made by the different tribal communities throughout the years, and also for the steps that could be taken to ensure better service to visiting tourists.
The tribal communities in the Nilgiris run the EDCs and ETMCs in various places, including Ninth Mile, the Pine Forest in Udhagamandalam, Avalanche and Needle Rock.
Sumesh Soman, District Forest Officer, the Nilgiris division, said that the financial benefits of the EDCs and ETMCs to local communities is visible for all to see.
“The Nilgiris forest division has some of the highest number of EDCs and ETMCs functioning anywhere in India,” he said, adding that further improvements to infrastructure were being carried out in various locations, including a stone walking path in the Pine Forest surrounding Kamaraj Sagar Dam, and a souvenir shop in Cairn Hill.
Nilgiris District Collector Innocent Divya called on tribal communities to help safeguard forest areas and wildlife.
She said that the Nilgiris was different from other districts, due to the tremendous amount of biodiversity.
Northay Kuttan, president of the Pagalkodu Mund EDC, said that the forest department had also organised training programmes for members of various EDCs.
Also present at the event were A. Pushpakaran, Deputy Director of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (buffer zone), Director of the Tribal Research Center in Udhagamandalam, P. Subramaniam and Assistant Conservator of Forests (Nilgiris division), K Saravanakumar.