It's a story of how a band of determined homemakers can foil a band of thugs:
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It's a story of how a band of determined homemakers can foil a band of thugs:
About 11 years ago, Jamuna Tuddu, a homemaker who lives near Ranchi, India, rounded up 25 other housewives and formed the Van Suraksha Samity (Forest Protection Committee). Prompted by a lack of cooking firewood, the FPC began patrolling the Muturkham forests southeast of town, fighting to reclaim the area from its "timber mafia," which had turned barren due to illegal logging.
The story about how Tuddu came to organize the FPC and be dubbed "Lady Tarzan" in the process is detailed in the Hindustan Times. The group's membership today is 70 women, ranging from 13 to 70 years old. Each night, one group of 12-some with children in arm-assembles and arms themselves for patrol. The older women guard the foothills with dogs to prevent escapes. The work is dangerous-one woman was killed last November-but the group is being rewarded by the provincial authorities: Newly paved roads and 24-hour running water now grace the town.
And, of course, the forest is the main beneficiary as protected areas begin to recover from previous destruction: "There is a kendu, eucalyptus or acacia tree every six feet; the gap between two trees 10 years ago used to be more than 24 feet. Several species of reptiles and avians, wild boars, hares and the elephant have made this forest their home," the newspaper wrote.