Green brigade protects Periyar tiger reserve

An all-woman green brigade named the Vasanta Sena or Green Army, has been protecting the Periyar Tiger Reserve at Thekkady in Kerala for the past five years. The Vasanta Sena members comprising poor housewives, armed with sticks maintain a sharp vigil over poachers and sandalwood smugglers, to protect the tigers and check unlawful felling of sandalwood. There are 82 women enrolled in the group and they guard the area from 11 in the morning till 5 in the evening.