Bringing Back Manas

The 2nd phase of training was conducted at
Kokilabari on 26th February 2006 in which 35
conservation volunteers from the Manas
Maozigendri Ecotourism Society attended the training.
A graphical representation of the number of staff
trained and equipped is given below:
It is evident from Fig. 150 that more staff were
equipped as compared to number of staff trained. This
discrepancy is because of early supply of kits to the
first lot of trainees who did not attend the training in
full after the receipt of kits. Due to this, the module
was changed such that kit distribution takes place
now only after the training is complete.
Fig.150 No. of staff trained and equipped in Manas TR
In the first phase, training was imparted in two
modules i.e. Module – A and Module – B.
Module – A was deisgned for foresters and above,
i.e. those who are supposed to draw up prosecution
reports in case of any offence taking place. Therefore,
more emphasis was given in Module – A to criminal
procedures, court craft and various provision of the
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Before the training, an
assessment of the current knowledge of staff on
Criminal Procedures Code (CrPC), the Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972 (WPA) and overall knowledge
of wildlife prosecution was made. Graphical
representation of the pre-training knowledge of
Manas staff on various topics is given in Fig. 151.
Fig.151 Knowledge of trainees before training
It is clear from Figure 151 that about 90% of the
staff of Manas have poor knowledge about criminal
procedure that is essential for successful conviction of
any offenders in wildlife cases. When a comparison is
made between the staff of Manas with national and
state averages, it is noticed that the staff of Manas are
much below the national average (Fig.152). The
national average of knowledge amongst forest staff
about CrPC, WPA and overall is 33.00%, 15.55% and
19.05% respectively whereas the state average of
knowledge in Assam forest staff about CrPC, WPA
and overall is 36.00%, 11.12% and 16.09% respectively.
Fig.152 Comparison of National and state average of
knowledge with Manas staff on criminal procedure
Module – B training was designed for all the staff
of Manas including Casual Workers and this, in the
first round, was conducted at two place i.e. Bansbari
and Barpeta Road. The second round of Module –B
training was conducted on 26th February 2006 at
Kokilabari specifically for conservation volunteers of
MMES. As almost all the conservation volunteers were
unable to write, pre-training assessment was made
only during the first round of training. Assessment
was made on the general knowledge of staff about the
state’s wildlife (State PA), essential items required for
patrolling (Patrolling Need), detailed knowledge
about their own PA (Own PA), general provision
about the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WPA) and
overall knowledge about prevention of wildlife crime
(overall).
Pre-training assessment on these parameters also
suggest that the knowledge of the staff of Manas is
much below (about 50%) the average knowledge level
of forest staff at national and state level (Fig. 153). The
Fig. 153 Comparison of national and state average with
Manas staff in Wildlife Crime Prevention
122 Bringing Back Manas