Jampani Shedra was established in 1993 by Lama Pema Ugyen Namdrol. The Shedra is located in Jampani village under Jomotshangkha Dungkhag, Samdrup Jongkhar district. Currently, it houses 65 monks and 20 nuns. However, there is no formal support from the Government and everything is being managed by monks and the nuns themselves through various supports.
One of the biggest problems of the Shedra is collecting firewood for cooking meals for the nuns and monks. The consumption of firewood has steadily increased over the years because of proportionate increment in intake of monks and nuns. Consumption of huge amount of fuel wood not only poses risk to health of monks and nuns but also poses an environmental threat in terms of high emission of CO2. Currently, the Shedra consumes four truckloads of firewood in a month. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore alternative option for fuel efficient cooking methods. Also, the shedra doesn?t have separate proper toilets for nuns therefore, maintaining hygiene was very difficult.
One of the lakes in the area namely Phakchu Tsho which has high cultural and religious value too needed to be protected. As prevalent now, the lake is dying and is littered by people thus, leading to loss of biodiversity and problem of waste management.
The project ?Rehabilitation of Phakchu Tsho and promotion of fuel efficient cook stoves? supported Shedra in rehabilitating Phakchu Tsho and providing improved fuel-efficient cooking stoves. Five fuel-efficient cook stoves were installed. The separate toilet for nuns and two disposal pits were also constructed. These interventions helped in drastic reduction of fuel wood consumption i.e. before, shedra consumed four truckloads of firewood was used in a month but now it hardly consumes two truckloads of firewood, thus reducing of emission of CO2 and pressure on forest for wood. The health and hygiene of monks and nuns were maintained too as less number of cough and eye sore related sickness was reported. Project also supported in plantation of 1000 numbers of trees (mostly champ and teak) around the Shedra?s surroundings and people living in nearby communities were involved in plantation program thereby advocating them on environmental issues and mitigation measure.
The lake was rehabilitated; clearing, removal of siltation of lake and construction of rubble wall were done. Now the volume, area of lake has increased and littering around the lake has drastically reduced thereby reducing loss of biodiversity.