Mukhyamantri Jan Van Yojna has witnessed fresh attraction of farmers and small land holders after payment of first incentive to farmers enrolled during first year. A senior forest department official said on Wednesday that the plan was almost on track by now after the department made incentive payments during last quarter of previous year.
“We have seen remarkable addition in number of farmers willing to be a part of Jan Van Yojna after payment of first year incentive to those enrolled in it, which has been started not only to regain lost green cover of the State, but also increase farmers’ income in relatively lesser time. We are pretty sure of this plan being one of the most effective plans in the State towards regaining its greenery,” said Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) SS Vadhawan on Wednesday.
He admitted that the plan couldn’t witness desired opening success, but was well on track by now. “Not only participating farmers and land owners, but those willing to take benefits were also apprehensive at the time this ambitious plan was announced in November 2015. Apprehensions crept in only because of design of the plan which required farmers and land owners to invest in it and 50 percent of the investment was to be returned back to them as incentive around year end after verification that the plan was executed properly under guidelines. But now after first installment has been paid to enrolled farmers, others are also trying to take
benefit of the plan,” added Vadhawan.
Notably, Mukhyamantri Jan Van Yojna was launched by Chief Minister Raghubar Das on the occasion of 16th State Foundation Day of Jharkhand. The scheme aims at reducing dependence over notified forest lands and opening up avenues of income for farmers by supporting plantation on private lands measuring minimum one-acre and not more than 50-acres.
Ex-APCCF YK Singh Chouhan, who found this plan close to his heart in his capacity, said on Wednesday that a late start of this Yojna did hit it during first year.
“But this is one of the best plans of the State and it is capable to change landscape of greenery. Moreover, farmers don’t invest their trust in government easily. This is why the entire perception about the plan has changed after farmers got the first installment of incentive,” said Chouhan.
The Yojna has been well-knit three years plan with activities for each year well-defined which farmers are bound to follow.
Digging pits, fencing, planting, using fertilizers and manure, irrigation of plants have been kept for first year activity, while the remaining two years would focus on harvesting and applying fertilizers and manures in the field.