Sarpamitras to collect, supply venom

PUNE: A co-operative of sarpamitras' (friends of snakes) will start functioning in the state from June, which will be entrusted with the job of scientific extraction and collection of snake venom, converting it into powder form and supplying it for making anti-venom.
The decision was taken at a meeting held at the state secretariat on May 14 under the chairmanship of state forest minister Babanrao Pachpute.The meeting was attended by Narendra Dabholkar, executive president of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (ANS), chief conservator of forests B. Mujumdar and senior activist of the Maharashtra Sarpamitra Sanghatna Rajesh Thombre. Thombre will be the chief promoter of the co-operative of sarpamitras' that will be based in Chalisgaon in Jalgaon district.
Sarpamitras are trained volunteers who capture snakes straying into human settlements, save their lives, release them in nature and also undertake activities to create awareness about usefulness of snakes.
Speaking to TOI on Wednesday, Dabholkar said: "The serum institutes that manufacture anti-venom will get a steady supply of venom through the co-operative, the sarpamitras' will be able to generate an income and the entire process is legalised by the forest department."
Dabholkar said the co-operative will collect snakes from sarpamitras, nurture them, extract the venom by scientific method, release these snakes in nature after sometime, convert the venom into powder form and supply it for making anti-venom. "This will fulfil the shortage of venom for making anti-venom."
Dabholkar said that the meeting also decided on a system for issuing identity cards for sarpamitras'. "All sarpamitras' have to submit applications to the district deputy conservators of forest a month before Nagpanchami. Each application should have a certificate showing that he/she has captured 10 snakes under the supervision of government recognised sarpamitras'. The applicants will have to appear for a written and oral examination for which a question bank is being compiled."
Volunteers who clear the exam will be given an ID card and offered insurance cover of Rs 25,000 by the state government. "Sarpamitras who wish to acquire special expertise will be asked to appear for a state level examination. Those who clear the exam will be given the title of snake expert' and given insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh by the state government," Dabholkar said.
He said that the state government will also hold an annual meet of sarpamitras' and give cash awards for model sarpamitras' for which budgetary allocation will be made.
In view of the excellent response to scientific exhibitions of snakes for creating awareness and clearing misconceptions and superstitions about snakes, the sarpamitras' have been asked to extend co-operation to all civic bodies that wish to organise similar exhibitions in association with the snake parks in their respective zoo.