Suvarna Aatale, one of the guardians at Kas Plateau, on duty
The forest department pays us Rs 600 per day. The forest department has engaged around 30 women for the first time this year from the neighbouring tribal villages to protect the plateau during the flowering season. Because we get employment every day, “This two-month blooming season is the best.
I am stationed here to protect this patch,” she said. It is a big help,” Sarika said, standing beside one of the distinctive pagodas along the track. Her jurisdiction is a roughly 400m stretch of the track, beyond which tourists are not allowed to enter the core flowering zone. “During the peak season, visitors cannot stop themselves from touching the flowers or rushing to take a closer look. A few metres away, Sarika Aatale guards another section of the plateau. For these women, Kas is not just a place where they stand guard. The short flowering season brings assured employment. Their working day begins early and stretches until 6pm, when the plateau closes to visitors.
They leave around 6am and reach the plateau 45 minutes later. The women begin their day much before reaching Kas. Their mornings start around 4am as they rush with cooking and other chores. For women from the surrounding villages, seasonal employment also fills a crucial livelihood gap. Most work as farm labourers during the agricultural season, cultivating rice and nachni (finger millet). When the season ends, work becomes scarce. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Pune | Silver Rate in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune | Petrol Price in Pune | Diesel Price in Pune | CNG Price in Pune | LPG Price in Pune