Mukhyamantri Jan Van Yojna launched by CM Raghubar Das, seems to have gained momentum with over 1000 acres of land being brought under the scheme. But forest department officials and those assigned to make this ambitious three year plan successful, claim that a complete overhaul, as far as educating farmers and providing them the know-how of this plan in rural areas is concerned, is much needed.
The plan was launched to reduce dependence over notified forest lands for farmers and generating a new source of income for them, and it has started serving its purpose, as more than 200 applications under this plan have already made its way to forest department, which is undoubtedly an encouraging number, said a senior official looking after this plan closely. But he also hinted that the plan has gained significant momentum among ‘Wise’ section of the farmer fraternity until now, while ‘Otherwise’ need to be educated properly.
Throwing more light on the activities under this plan, YK Singh Chauhan, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (APCCF, Jharkhand said, “We need to understand why most of around 200 received applications under this plan have come from districts like Chatra, Gharhwa, Deoghar, Koderma and Dumka. They all are boarder areas and farmers of those areas are well connected with their counterparts in Bihar. That is why they are more educated and ‘wise’ to receive the benefits of Government. Application for the smallest plot area has been one acre and average 4-5 acres, we have also verifying a couple of applications of 30-35 acres of land, which have come from boarder areas itself.
A land owner with minimum of one acre and maximum 50 acres of land to plant timber trees and fruit bearing trees to get some extra income, may come and get enrolled under this plan. Government will support the person with 50 per cent incentive for planting and maintaining the farm. During these three years, digging pits, fencing, planting, using fertilisers and manure, irrigation of plants will be done in first year. Remaining two years would focus on harvesting and applying fertilizers and manures and other associated works in the field. The monetary aid would also be spread over three years. The only condition this plan presents in front of the person is that he will have to plant at least 445 saplings of timber trees and 160 plantlets of fruit trees at specified distance. A beneficiary would be responsible for the conservation of the plants.
“But if you think wisely, you get all the plant completely free of cost (if you wish) from our nursery, which has excellent quality plants to satisfy the requirements of all the applicants so far easily. And then only you can understand that the incentive of Rs69 which Government is giving you to produce timber tree and Rs192 for fruit bearing plants turns your farming cost almost zero”, said Chauhan.
He informed that little over 1,000 acres of land have been brought under this plan, and applicants are increasing. But a nearly neutral approach from land-owners in cities and suburbs is not encouraging.
