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A kalandar displays illegal sloth bear performance |
Despite a ban enacted by the October 1998 amendment in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1960), sloth bear performance continues covertly in remote areas across India. One of the main reasons for the persistence of this practice is the lack of livelihood opportunities for Kalandars, who have for generations relied primarily on bear dancing for livelihood. The SBCWP addresses this root cause through its Alternative Livelihood (for Kalandars) component, by introducing willing Kalandars to alternate livelihood of their choice and ensuring stability in their new lives.
Rehabilitation of Kalandars undertaken by the WSPA-WTI project follows a lengthy protocol, divided into two phases. The protocol encourages participation of individual Kalandars and their family members in every decision-making exercise.
The first phase begins with the identification of Kalandar settlements comprising sloth bear performers. A rapport-building process ensues. The members of this close-knit semi-nomadic community are generally wary of outsiders, which makes it difficult to garner their trust. Ultimately however, they give in to the logic of alternative livelihood, and agree to surrender their bears to the respective State Forest Departments.
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Left: WSPA-WTI field officers convince Kalandars to surrender their bears
Right: A Kalandar surrenders his bear to the Forest Department
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Through community consultations and dialogue with individual Kalandars and their family members, feasibility of the intervention is evaluated. A viable alternative livelihood is selected. Following surrender of the sloth bear, the Kalandar is provided with the alternative livelihood package, including establishment of the new occupation.
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Beneficiary kalandars attend to their respective alternative livelihoods |
The second phase includes regular monitoring to keep track of the progress of the respective beneficiaries. Regular counseling is carried out to optimise their earnings and keep up the morale. Depending on the need, additional aid is provided. They are also assisted in expansion of their businesses.
The project not only helps Kalandars who surrender their bears, but also their dependents for an overall growth of the entire family.
Successful rehabilitation of a single Kalandar may take up to several years. Although a lengthy process, the project maintains steady contact and relationship with the beneficiaries to prevent any form of relapse.
The strength of this project lies in its ideology of permanent rehabilitation, rather than the easier cash-for-bear programmes. Unlike the latter, this WSPA-WTI project implemented with respective State Forest Departments ensures that every subject is deeply entrenched in their new lives, to his/her satisfaction.
