We support our community with the people-programs below:

Medical Camps

Over 4,700 people have been treated in The Tiger Center Medical Camps to date!

The nearest permanent medical facility is 60km away (37 miles), and the poor people of our region face serious and deadly illness and injury every day. Recently, a lady from one of our villages had a 5kg tumour removed from her abdomen -- thankfully benign. Another lady had her ear successfully operated in one of our partner hospitals in Nagpur.  A young mother's life was saved with a kidney operation from that same partner hospital. She's alive and returned to the family who need her -- including her 2-year-old child.

Giving - Warm winter blankets, clothing, water filters, & Other essentials

We've given warm winter blankets, clothing, water filters, and other essentials tonearly 25,000 people.  At left is Commissioner Mehta, Rano Kanha, and Ashish Kuchwaha, sorting through some items for one of our giving events.  We extend a special thanks to them and to Adv Sudhir Puranik (Sudhir Bhau to all of us), Mr. Prashant Padhye, Mr. Shiraz Dongaji, and the rest of the donation team! Krishna and Renu Daga regularly (and for many years!) have been donating generously and working towards the welfare if the poor in Kanha.  We thank them -- and all our donors -- for their friendship, help, and the honour of knowing them.

usha-tiger center silai sewing school

The Tiger Center and Usha Int'l. Ltd. operate a machine-sewing school in our community, with curriculum designed by the National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD), based in New Delhi.  Over  150 women have obtained diplomas and can earn a living for themselves and their families with new businesses. Our two schools could train 60 students in our 6-month program, held twice a year, plus advanced workshops to upgrade their skills. We are now combining them into one larger school. We use solar power and filtered (safe)  water for students and teacher.  It's the start of not only family businesses but also clean energy and safe water for our community, as well as all Usha Silai Schools (they are encouraging the practice worldwide).

BAIGA CULTURAL EVENTS

We've been arranging Baiga cultural dance events to share the rich culture and artistic achievements of our indigenous community with tourists and the broader community. In fact, The Chief Minister of our state appointed Prof. Nishi to the State Eco Tourism Board, where we can further impact public policy and promote learning, sharing, and economic growth through travel.

Art exhibition - tigers, baiga, & beyond

The Tiger Center and the Tollygunge Club of Kolkata salute the magnificent artistry of Ashish Kachchwaha, showcasing the Baiga, guardians of India’s forests! The art exhibition showcases his work on the tribals and wildlife of Kanha – both essential for our life together.  Do check out our 2017 update album on FaceBook for paintings being created by our very own Artist-in-Residence Ashish Kachchwah and his team. At the behest of the local government, they have made the entire area by the town of Mandla into an Art Gallery! They are painting all the walls of the town with Baiga Art, showing their environmentally-friendly lifestyle and culture -- probably an unprecedented venture, internationally. As American poets Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel wrote, "The words of the Prophet are written on the subway (in this case, highway!) walls." Both the medium and the message are of resounding importance to our day and age. Way to go Ashish and team!

SNAKE REMOVAL

Cobras and other dangerous serpents sometimes establish residence in and near people's homes -- especially in monsoon season,  when forest animals seek shelter, and storms disrupt the power supply. With no lights, a cobra in the house, and no hospital or antivenon nearby, it's a dangerous situation!  With solar lights donated by Krishna Daga and keen naturalist skills, our brave Artist-in-Residence, Ashish Kachchwaha relocates the snake back into the forest, saving the lives of people and wildlife.

lantana - from forest waste to furniture

Prof. Nishi noticed the removal of lantana one day -- forest waste for burning -- and started thinking, "Instead of all this work to burn waste, why can't we make furniture from these vines the way we use cane and rattan?"  Now we do, in the Tiger Center Furniture Factory, and we have capacity for 50 farmers to earn a living when their one crop a year (rice) is finished.