In Madhya Pradesh a remarkable work has been done in the direction of community participation, forest management, conservation and improvement through forest committees, which is unique in the whole country. The families associated with these forest committees have also become financially empowered.
The forest area of ??the state is 94 thousand 689 square kilometers, which is the highest in comparison to other states. It is 12.3% of the total forest area of ??the country. Forest committees are working in 15 thousand 608 villages for public participation in the management of 79 lakh 70 thousand hectare forest area of ??the state. In the last one decade, forest committees in 1552 villages have improved the forest area of ??4 lakh 31 thousand hectares. At a time when the forests are under threat all over the world, these committees have done a great job in collaboration with the Forest Department.
The State Minor Forest Produce Cooperative Federation is working with the objective of getting fair price to the families collecting forest produce. The innovative measures of the association have brought a positive change in the lives of tendu patta collectors. Tribal families living in remote areas were given remuneration of Rs. 415 crores and distributed dividend of Rs. 192 crores by collecting tendu leaves even after lockdown due to Covid-19 in 2021 tendu patta season.
In the old policy, 70 percent of the dividend was given as a bonus to the collectors. In addition, 15% of the amount was spent for the social and economic welfare of the collectors and 15% on the conservation and development of minor forest yielding species in the forest areas. Now according to the spirit of "PESA Act", 75% of the profit from the business of tendu leaves is given to the collectors, 10% for the socio-economic welfare of the collectors and 10% for the conservation of minor forest produce species in the forest areas and 5% for the Gram Sabhas.
In the new resolution by the Forest Department, a provision has been made to give 33% of the amount received from the entry of tourists in the national parks to the forest committees. The committees have been empowered to conduct eco-tourism work in the allotted areas. The income from this will go to the forest committees. This will give opportunities to the local youth to start economic activities.
One-third of the villages in the state are situated in or near the forest areas. The livelihood of the residents there is based on forests.
In self-reliant Madhya Pradesh, the target is to prepare a micro plan of 5000 forest committees by the end of this year. This will provide employment opportunities. Along with this, the village community will be able to stand on their feet by producing the forest produce of their need.
The dividend given to the forest committees has been increased. Earlier, 20 percent of the net profit amount was available at the district level, due to which the amount could be distributed only in a few districts. Most of the committees were deprived of benefits. According to the new resolution, each committee will get 20 percent of the revenue received from the utilization done in its area. Earlier, the dividend distribution of wood and bamboo was up to Rs 50 crore. Now it has increased to around 160 crores per year.
The right to constitute and reconstitute forest committees has now been entrusted to the Gram Sabhas. Arrangements have also been made to include women and people from weaker sections in the executive committee of the Forest Committee.
Various types of forest produce are produced in the state. In this, Mahua, Tendu Pattas, Harra, Bahera, Amla and Chironji are prominent. In accordance with the spirit of the PESA Act, Gram Sabhas have been given full rights to minor forest produce.
Such decisions have been taken under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, which have proved to be transformative for the collecting families associated with forest committees. Forest committees have got huge economic benefits. For example, by fixing the support price of 32 forest produce, about 17 lakh families have benefitted. These families have benefitted by giving 75 percent instead of 70 percent of the net profit of the tendu patta business.
Increase in Tendu Patta collection rate
The collection rate of tendu patta has been continuously increased. Remuneration and bonus have also been paid in the same proportion. Tendu leaves collection rate was Rs. 400 per standard bag in the year 2005, which has now increased to Rs. 2500 hundred per standard bag. The remuneration paid was Rs. 67 crore in the year 2005, which has increased to Rs. 415 crore in the year 2021. Eklavya Education Scheme for the children of collectors has been going on for the last eleven years, due to which an amount of Rs. 2 crore one lakh has been provided to 1712 children for education.