Light a Life!

The crash in India's tiger population from some 100,000 at the beginning of the 20th century to only a couple of thousand by the end of it has been attributed largely to a community called the Pardhis, who are nomadic since the time of the Mughal emperors and have been hired to help in shikar (hunting) for the British & the ‘zameendars’ (landowners). The community's traditional occupation is hunting, just as their name suggests. The extinction of tigers in Panna Tiger Reserve by 2009 was primarily owing to this community's activities inside the forests of Panna. In the same year, the Forest Department resettled 40-50 Pardhi families outside the Tiger and initiated 2 hostels for both girls and boys in 2007. The idea was to primarily wean the next generation away from hunting and to enjoy a dignified place in society. 

Thus, the issue is that if this community is not educated and at the same time the others (who’re not educated) are not engaged in alternate livelihoods, they are likely to resort back to hunting for their own survival. In order to avoid this situation from arising, we’re working closely with this community to educate the children and to provide alternate livelihoods.

Support for continued education of the students will not only allow them to enjoy a dignified place in mainstream society and explore potential career opportunities but will further strengthen the resolve of other students to wean away from a nomadic life and follow the path set up by these students. Apart from primary and middle school students, our promising students who are currently residing in the Pardhi hostels are pursuing their standard 10th, 11th, and 12th respectively, and will need the necessary financial support for successful completion of their High School education.

Previous Success story: 5 of the students who were financially supported and are pass out from the boys’ and girls’ hostel respectively, are now pursuing their higher education. While the two boys are pursuing their graduation in B.Sc. Agriculture, the girls are pursuing their B.A. (Arts). These students are the first line of Pardhi graduates, and our aim is to encourage more and more students to complete their schooling and to study further. Our Pardhi graduates have already set a standard in their community which is motivating other students to embrace education.

We wish to support the education of at least 30 Pardhi students through this initiative.