Chirping of Gubbi (sparrow)

Every successful hive begins with one bee finding the right direction. In my search for that direction, I found the much-needed sunshine during one of my morning walks with Deviprasad. As we discussed my idea of developing a sustainable honey value chain for the Maulis, I sought his advice on creating an institutional structure that could bring them together. Devi smiled and said, “There is one wonderful senior officer whose passion is mentoring youth for enterprises. He is deeply committed to the empowerment of SHGs. Main tumhe usse milwata hoon.” The next day morning Devi said, “Sir, Subah at 10.30 milne ke liye time diya hai. Chalo we go together”. Devi and I reached the office of the Additional Chief Secretary, Panchayats and Rural Development Department, on time and waited outside his chamber. A tall gentleman in a crisp white shirt tucked neatly into dark trousers, with neatly side-parted hair gently brushing his forehead and rectangular spectacles, walked towards his chamber...

  Pranab Mondal first suggested the idea of promoting apiaries as an adaptable and practical livelihood option for the people of the Sundarbans. Soshan complemented the idea with valuable business advice, helping us plan every stage of the enterprise—from training honey collectors in beekeeping and nurturing bee colonies to harvesting and marketing honey. My next task was to identify suitable beneficiaries and launch a sustainable beekeeping programme that would improve the livelihoods of local communities while contributing to the conservation of the Sundarbans ecosystem. My vision was to create a true win-win model, where people prospered while wildlife and forests benefited. Why Sustainable Beekeeping? Since time immemorial, the people of the Sundarbans have ventured deep into the mangrove forests to collect wild honey. These traditional honey collectors are known as Maulis. For generations, honey collection has been more than a livelihood; it has been a way of life. Yet it is o...