Express News Service
UTTARAKHAND: It has been a hectic day for Medhavi Keerti, forest range officer of Bhadrigaad range. Fondly called ‘Ranger Didi’ by locals, she has to train a select few local women for the first-ever ‘Dhatree’ initiative. Dhatree, meaning mother, is the brainchild of Keerti who started it after senior officials encouraged her to utilise the catchment area treatment (CAT) funds of the Uttarakhand State Forest Department.
Keerti, who joined her first posting as a range officer on May 1 last year, has been instrumental in transforming the lives of these villagers, especially women. Their income has gone up over 10-fold since October last year. “It was difficult convincing people. But with the support of my seniors, especially DFO Kehkashan Naseem Ma’am, I succeeded. Finally, it all started last year barely a month before Diwali. We arranged machines and trainers for train a few local women.