Jayanand Derekar © WCS India Archives
Bengaluru: WCS India Staff Jayanand Hambir Darekar has been awarded doctorate degree in sociology from the University of Mysore. His thesis was on "Sociological Insights into People's Participation in Forestry Programmes: A Study in Uttara Kannada District." He was guided by Dr. R Indira in his work.
WCS India Country Director Prakriti Srivastava congratulates Jayanand on behalf of the organization and in her personal capacity for his meritorious achievement. She wishes him success in his future pursuits.
Jayanand belongs to the Kunabi community, a forest-dwelling one found in Joida, Sirsi, Haliyala and Karwara taluks of Karnataka and in neighbouring Goa. He is the first Kunabi to complete double post-graduation, in arts and commerce. He is at present the President of the Kunabi Samaja in Joida taluk.
Jayanand has been ably assisting WCS India in the community support programme in and around the Kali Tiger Reserve. He has assisted more than 100 families living in the interior of the forests to avail of the benefits of the government-sponsored relocation programme. As Community Organizer, he has also been reaching out to 150 families in providing livelihood support. Due to his motivation, several women in Joida taluk have taken up beekeeping and vegetable cultivation as income generation activities.