She is witty, vivacious and endowed with a winsome personality. Anshu Pragyan Das, a forest officer, has experienced working in Tiger Reserves of Odisha like Similipal and Satkosia for a considerable period of time with valuable contributions towards protection of landscape and livelihood of forest-dependent communities. Having completed 13 years of her service, her main thrust has been wildlife conservation and ecotourism. She has worked all along in tandem with environmentalist, carefully nourishing, nurturing, preserving and protecting her motto to promote ecotourism. Engrossed in interaction with biopic components, she focuses on socially-responsible travelling by ‘leap homes and the gentle brawns’ while working for the economic amelioration and empowerment of the communities concerned. She is the woman behind the successful ecotourism project, Satkosia Sands at Badmul in Satkosia Tiger Reserve. The project, first of its kind in the State, earned revenue of Rs 1 crore last year; and this year also providing employment in many riverine villages of the Satkosia Tiger Reserve, mostly for women. She also brought in the concept of Eco-Village by transforming one forest dependent-village to a self-dependent one. Odisha's first Canopy Walk was her innovation, which is built by villagers with training under her stewardship. Nature education programmes in ecotourism like poacher-turned-protectors, know your birds and Walk in Jungle have been her brainchild. In 2018, she was the brain behind cracking the pangolin trade racket in central and eastern India after arrest of a wanted international pangolin trader, Shamsuddin Khan. She has authored two books “Birds of Satkosia Landscape” and “Satkosia, the Seen & the Unseen”, which have received wide acclaim. In February 2020, she received the Indian Express Devi Award from the Chief Minister along with 12 other women achievers for her significant contribution to ecotourism.  She has proved beyond doubt that a woman is not always an object of sympathy but is an important and an indispensable part of governance and decision making. In an interview to The Pioneer, Anshu Pragyan spoke to Sugyan Choudhury on the occasion of the International Women’s Day.

How easy it is for women to be in forestry sector?

I believe in poet William Wordsworth’s observation on forest that has inspired me to work under the greenwood trees: 

“One impulse from a vernal wood

May teach you more of man,

Of moral evil and of good, Than all the sages can”

Women and men both are creations of God; and since years, they have been living on this earth with love and harmony. The approach of both towards execution of their duties or taking care of their responsibilities is the same. But in the sector like forestry, there are certain advantages of being a lady on job. In our State, the forest cover is almost 40% and a majority of the population is dependent on forest and forest produce for their alternative livelihood. They reduce pressure on forest and motivate general public towards wildlife conservation.

What are your interest areas in work field?

As a Government servant, accomplishing duties on time has always been my prime concern. I do photography, sometimes write. I have two book publications till now. On holidays, I do birding too. A good book sometimes is my favourite companion. Working with people for a developmental cause has always been the main charm in Government services.

Ecotourism being new subject in Odisha, how could you make the Badmul Ecotourism project successful in a small duration?

Credit for the success this project goes to the hardworking community members working over there. As a Government servant, I have only given my best in fulfilling the requirement of the landscape. Ecotourism has multidimensional impact on society and also on forest. Odisha is rich in forests and wildlife resources, beautiful valleys, sky-touching mountains, mesmerising rivers and thousand of streams all over. Because of ecotourism, people from all over the world are getting a chance to visit Odisha and witness its diversity. The Badmul project overlooking the Satkosia gorge started during 2016 with three tented accommodations run by eight villagers. Now, the project stands with 19 tents and cottages managed by 34 villagers benefitting eight 8 to 10 riverine villages of Nayagarh district. It has turned to be favourite place for backpackers and novelists. Gradually, the turnover of the project increased from 4 lakh in 2016 to 1 crore during 2019. Of course, this success has been possible because of the hard work of the community members and cooperation of local public. I would thank all forest staffs, who completed the work in time and with transparency. Any person may go to Badmul and ask the villagers the reason of their success; and they will say it is hard work and transparency which has changed their lives.

Has it been an innovative work?

It is mostly the requirement of landscape according to which we design different projects while working for an ecotourism project, ideas shared by the local people. Of course, the silence of forest too brings in new thoughts sometimes.

How far does the State Government accommodate innovation?

Any innovative work beneficial for our people has always been a yes from the Government.

How much can ecotourism tone up the economy of the State?

The Odisha model of ecotourism is a community-based model in which a major share of the revenue generated goes back to the community itself. Many women are employed in different ecotourism destinations now. It has been an alternative income for the forest-dependant communities who were earlier dependent on poaching, smuggling, fishing, collecting honey, firewood, etc., for their survival. Through ecotourism, they are now able to sustain their livelihoods. Our State’s ecotourism model is people-centric. Beside supporting the State’s economy, ecotourism is the only way to invite tourists from different parts of the world to see the captivating  beauty which our State is having.

What is the role of women in ecotourism?

Our Indian culture has always believed in the strength a women carries. In this changing world where women are found bringing positive results in different sectors of the society, ecotourism has emerged as an area which supports both livelihood and conservation. It is the women in remote areas who have conserved forests since ages. Now, who can better speak about the interesting factsof nature and secrets of wilderness to the tourists other than women themselves! Yes, it is the women who are the backbone of this project.