Revision as of 00:20, 19 November 2018

2001: Children Development Khazana

India Today

Nandini Vaish April 24, 2009 It is an idea that children can bank on, well, literally. The Children Development Khazana started by development organisation Butterflies works like a cooperative bank run by street children for street children.

Earlier called a bank, Khazana had to drop the formal title due to RBI guidelines, which state that only institutions with licences can be called banks. Founded in 2001, Khazana has 405 members, though most have shifting accounts as they form a floating population. As of February, it had savings of Rs 1.3 lakh—mostly used by children for food and visits to their families. Rita Panicker, director, Butterflies says: “If the children have nowhere to put their money, it ends up being stolen or wasted in drugs and gambling.” Khazana has 15 collection points in Delhi where children can deposit their money, while the branch itself is located in a alley near the old Delhi Railway Station. It opens for a couple of hours every evening to allow children to withdraw cash and even take small loans. The children themselves decide whom to give a loan to. “Giving them the power to make decisions is preparing them for life,” Panicker says.

Members can open two types of accounts—a savings account and a current or chalta-phirta account. The manager is elected from among them once every six months and the functioning of the bank is decided through monthly meetings. Those elected are taught the basic principles of banking and one of the most important rules for that person is to be polite to others.

As Khazana develops accountability in children by making them stakeholders, NGOs have approached Butterflies to help them develop the model. Today Khazana is present in eight Indian cities and internationally in Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Kyrgyzstan. The institute now plans a mobile banking centre which will go about town. Truly an idea whose time has come.

Statistics, state-wise

Delhi

2017/ First butterfly count, Delhi

69 butterfly species recorded in NCR, September 24, 2017: The Times of India

Butterfly lovers and lepidopterists were delighted with the results of the first `butterfly count' in NCR, recording 69 species in the region. The results were announced on Saturday in an event which also saw butterfly enthusiasts submit the names of four butterflies -one of which will be chosen as the state butterfly of the capital.

Armed with a checklist and cameras in their hands, hundreds of people had set out across different parts of NCR to take part in the first ever butterfly count for Delhi. Organised by the conservation education centre (city wing of Bombay Natural History Society), the census was part of the butterfly month which aimed to provide an accurate and updated list of butterfly species found in the region.

Among the rare and uncommon butterflies recorded included psyche, chocolate pansy , Indian red flash, red pierrot, chocolate pansy , African babul and painted lady ­ some of which were sighted after several years.

Karnataka

2016/ Southern Bird Wing: State butterfly of Karnataka

Mohit M. Rao, September 22, 2016: The Hindu

Southern Bird Wing; Mohit M. Rao, September 22, 2016: The Hindu

The red and yellow stripes of the insect matches the colours of the State flag

Fluttering with distinctive red and yellow stripes amongst the verdant green of the Western Ghats, the Southern Bird Wing butterfly was in-principle approved to become the “State butterfly” of Karnataka.

The proposal for the State butterfly was given approval from the State Wildlife Board during its meeting on Wednesday, said B. Ramanath Rai, Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment.

This makes Karantaka the second State in the country after Maharashtra to adopt a State butterfly. Maharashtra chose the Blue Mormom butterfly as its State butterfly a year ago.

The proposal to adopt Southern Bird Wing butterfly as the State butterfly had been sent by Sanjay Mohan, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Research and Utilisation).

“We short-listed a few butterflies and selected the Southern Bird Wing as its colours match the colours of the Karnataka Flag,” Mr. Mohan said.

The Southern Bird Wing is the largest butterfly in India, with the females growing up to 190 mm in length. Primarily endemic to South India, it is found in abundance in Karnataka.

“As it is easily sighted, we can hope that more people become aware of the importance of butterflies in the eco-system. These are important pollinators, and their preservation is necessary for the eco-system,” said Nitin R., an entomologist with the National Centre for Biological Sciences.

However, he said there could be a downside to this, particularly as the declaration of a State butterfly does not come with the additional protection.

With this particular species of butterfly shooting to prominence, there could be a chance of the colourful creature being targeted and becoming collectibles, he added.

Kerala

Parambikulam Tiger Reserve: 221 varieties

K.A. Shaji, A forest filled with butterflies, November 18, 2018: The Hindu

A Red-disc bush brown butterfly in Parambikulam
From: K.A. Shaji, A forest filled with butterflies, November 18, 2018: The Hindu

Survey spots 221 varieties in Parambikulam Tiger Reserve

As dawn breaks, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, one of India’s protected forest areas, turns a garden with dream flowers floating all over. The sight repeats as dusk falls in. Wafer thin canvases bearing a splash of colours flutter all around, filling the reserve with a splendour that matches the aura of a forest full of butterflies.

A recent survey held in the reserve spotted 221 varieties of butterflies, 11 of which were endemic to the area.

With such a rich spread, the reserve could also hit spotlight as a haven of butterflies.

The survey, initiated jointly by the Department of Forest and Wildlife, Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation, and the Wayanad-based Ferns Naturalists Society, was held between November 9 and 12.

Sixty experts and 50 forest protection staff participated in the survey in the reserve.

Major species

According to butterfly expert V.K. Chandrasekharan, the major species spotted during the four-day initiative include Small Palm Bob, Silverstreak Blue, Orange-tail Awl, and Red-disc Bushbrown. Among them, Orange-tail Awl gets active only during early morning hours and late in the evening.

The survey was held in different topographies and forest areas, including evergreen forests, dry deciduous forests, moist deciduous forests, shrubs and meadows, which lie in areas such as Aanapanthi, Parambikulam, Kuriarkutty and Nelliampathy.

Seventeen separate camps were arranged in these areas to ensure comprehensive surveying.

Surprise find

“One of the biggest surprises of the survey is the spotting of Red-disc Bushbrown, a high-altitude species endemic to Western Ghats. We found them in an area of Nelliampathy region at an altitude of 1,320 m. It would be difficult to spot them in any part further north of Western Ghats,” said Mr Chandrasekharan.

The survey team had also recorded migration patterns of the rare species — Dark Blue Tiger and Common Crow.

Buddha Peacock or Buddha Mayoori, which was recently declared as State butterfly of Kerala, was found in abundance in some areas of the forest. The survey had also recorded over 100 butterfly host plants in the reserve.

The survey team included members of the Travancore Natural History Society, Malabar Natural History Society, and students of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Wayanad.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the butterfly survey is being organised in Parambikulam.

Involvement of tribes

A pioneer in community-based ecotourism, Parambikulam tries to ensure foolproof conservation with the active involvement of 234 members of six tribal settlements inside its limits. The reserve has many firsts to its credit, made possible through the participation of tribespeople.

Being a protected forest area, the reserve has nearly five endemic flora varieties and has had 29 direct sightings of tigers. Ever since the Joint Forest Participatory Management was introduced, there have been no incidents of poaching in the reserve.

West Bengal

2017/ Butterflies in Singur

Shiv Sahay Singh, October 21, 2017: The Hindu

Striped Albatross, butterfly
From: Shiv Sahay Singh, October 21, 2017: The Hindu

Indian Skipper, butterfly
From: Shiv Sahay Singh, October 21, 2017: The Hindu

Peacock Pansy, butterfly
From: Shiv Sahay Singh, October 21, 2017: The Hindu

Pea Blue, butterfly
From: Shiv Sahay Singh, October 21, 2017: The Hindu

69 species of butterflies belonging to 54 genera and five families were recorded in a study by the Zoological Survey of India

A study by researchers of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) shows for the first time that thehamlet is home to at least 69 species of butterflies. “A total of 69 species of butterflies belonging to 54 genera and five families were recorded from the study area. Family Nymphalidae was the most dominant among the five families with 22 species, followed by Lycaenidae, comprising of 19 species,” the paper titled ‘A study of butterfly diversity in Singur’ says.

Researchers found butterflies in the rice and vegetable fields of the area, as well as in bushes and shrubs along railway lines and National Highways.

No forested land

Singur has no forested land and the area is known for rice, potato and vegetable cultivation.

Mr. Dey said that more intensive studies on different ecological parameters that can help access diversity of Singur’s fauna are being planned.

The presence of so many species of butterflies has provided a great deal of joy to the farmers who had waged a long battle against the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) led West Bengal government against the acquisition of 997 acres of agricultural land for Tata Motors’ Nano car plant in Singur.

“While our struggle was aimed at the return of the land acquired for the proposed car plant, we are happy that it has helped the environment of Singur. There would have not so many butterflies had the car plant been operational,” said Mahabdeb Das, a farmer who was at the forefront of the land acquisition struggle. He was pleasantly surprised to learn about the butterfly diversity of the region.

On August 30, 2017, the Supreme Court quashed the Left Front government’s acquisition of 997 acres of agricultural land for the car plant in Singur. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee returned the acquired land to farmers on September 14, 2016.