mud on boots


The Mud on Boots Project is a booster programme designed to empower and support ‘mud-on-the-boots’ conservationists in India over a two-year period. The project focuses on those individuals whose conservation leadership potential is overlooked by large organisations and government agencies because of limitations such as the lack of academic qualifications, access to technology or language barriers.

Through this project Sanctuary is enabling a network of on-ground conservationists across the country, each of whom is contributing steadfastly to biodiversity conservation and community engagement in distinct and measurable ways. In addition to monetary support, Sanctuary works to raise the profiles of these Project Leaders, connect them to pertinent organisations or experts and forward their causes. The Project has been developed to be flexible to the needs of each Project Leader and Sanctuary’s support to each one is customised. While keeping paperwork and bureaucracy to a minimum, Sanctuary ensures that every project develops holistically.

Selection Project Leaders are selected through a closed nomination process. Nominations are invited from trusted conservationists within Sanctuary’s extensive network, and are reviewed by the Sanctuary team. Priority is given to nominees who do not have the tools to expand their work through external funding; and are working in neglected landscapes, on conflict mitigation, or on community engagement.

Nominations for the Mud on Boots Project are considered on a rolling basis, as and when funds become available.

The sponsorship of a single Project Leader’s work is INR 5,00,000/- for the two-year period. This includes administration costs and overheads. Donations of any amount towards the Mud on Boots Project are appreciated.

Photo: Shiv Kumar

Current Project Leaders


Phuntsog-Dolma

Phuntsog Dolma

Dechin Pema Saingmo

Dechin Pema Saingmo

Pemba Romo

Pemba Romo

Amir Kumar Chhetri

Amir Kumar Chhetri

Vishal Ahuja

Vishal Ahuja

Radheshyam Pemani Bishnoi

Radheshyam Pemani Bishnoi

Photo: Ripan Biswas

Alumni (Past Project Leaders)


Sandhya and Marina

Sandhya and Marina

Ashwin and Chandni Gurusrikar

Ashwin Gurusrikar

Anoko Mega

Anoko Mega

Flying Squad

The Flying Squad, Seoni

Joydeb Pradhan

Joydeb Pradhan

Manoj Gogoi

Manoj Gogoi

Rajeev Chauhan

Rajeev Chauhan

S Chandrasekaran

S. Chandrasekaran

Takam Nabam

Takam Nabam

Tsuseki and Limthure

Tsuseki and Limthure

Uras Kha

Uras Kha

Zakhuma Don

Zakhuma Don

hiv-Kumar

Shiv Kumar

Malhar Indulkar

Malhar Indulkar

Sunil Harsana

Sunil Harsana

Bhuvaneshwara

Bhuvaneshwara HC

Sajal Madhu

Sajal Madhu

Photo: Shivang Mehta

small grants


Sanctuary’s Small Grants are monetary awards of less than one lakh rupees that are bestowed upon veteran grassroots wildlife conservationists in recognition of their service to India’s biodiversity and ecological health.

Sevaram Parihar

Sevaram Parihar

Sevaram lives in the village of Kheechan, Rajasthan, which serves as a winter migration site for thousands of Demoiselle Cranes from southern Europe, northern Africa and parts of Russia.

Alemba Naga Yimchunger

Alemba Yimchunger

A hunter-turned-conservationist, Alemba has worked for the Forest Department of the Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary for the past three decades.

Support


The Mud on Boots Project is made possible by the generosity of individual donors and the following collaborators:

Tina Abraham

The TINA Grant

The Tina Abraham-Sanctuary Initiative for Nature Action (TINA) was launched in 2015 by banker Paul Abraham and Sanctuary in memory of Tina Abraham, who was a staunch wildlife defender.

Hemandra Kothari

The Hemendra Kothari Tiger Defenders Fund

Investment banker Hemendra Kothari is widely-recognised as the single largest individual donor to wildlife conservation efforts in India. In 2016, in honour of Mr. Kothari’s 70th birthday, his friends and colleagues pooled their resources to establish the Hemendra Kothari Tiger Defender Fund to be disbursed through the Mud on Boots Project.

​The Team


Cara Tejpal

Cara Tejpal

Maitreyee Mujumdar

Maitreyee Mujumdar

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Resources


pdf
Mud on Boots Impact Report 2018
When conservation efforts come from within the local community, the results are magical. Read notes from our 2018 Project Leaders in the annual report.
pdf
Mud on Boots July-December 2017
With support from 25 generous donors, the Mud on Boots 2017 batch of Project Leaders has gone far to spur positive change in their respective landscapes.
pdf
Mud on Boots Reports, Feb-Dec 2019
News from the grassroots conservationists supported by Sanctuary’s Mud on Boots Project, along with campaign updates from the year 2019.
pdf
Mud on Boots Report, February 2020
News from the grassroots conservationists supported by Sanctuary’s Mud on Boots Project, along with campaign updates from February 2020.
pdf
Mud on Boots Report, April 2020
News from the grassroots conservationists supported by Sanctuary’s Mud on Boots Project, along with campaign updates from April 2020.