Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand on Saturday directed the forest department officials to chalk out a detailed action plan for the development of agro-forestry under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA).
He was addressing the second day's session of a two-day review meeting of the Forest Department's senior field-level officials at the State Headquarters, 'Aranya Bhavan,' here. Dhand said that development of agro-forestry is one of the top priorities of the State government.
The Chief Secretary laid special emphasis on development of 'agro-forestry' as per the State government's policies, so as to alleviate poverty and increase sources of income for forest dwellers. He said that Chhattisgarh's vast forest resources can be utilized in a productive way for improving the financial condition of forest dweller villagers.
The State Government is implementing various schemes for conservation and proper utilization of forest resources, he said while adding that active participation of forest dwellers is required for the development of new forests and protection of the same.
Dhand said that the forest officials should take active steps in this direction. The Chief Secretary also instructed officials to attend the meetings of zila panchayats compulsorily and provide information about Government schemes there.
Dhand said in the meeting that before independence, under British rule, forests were only a source of revenue collection. But after independence, forest resources have become a major source of financial betterment for forest dwellers through forest conservation and collection of forest produces.
Insisting upon the importance of agro-forestry, the Chief Secretary said that especially the tribal farmers from Bastar and Sarguja Revenue Divisions should be associated with agro-forestry, as they have suitable land available.
Dhand informed the meeting that significant works of agro-forestry have been done in Kondagaon district of Bastar Revenue Division. But compared to the farmers of other districts, tribal farmers of Bastar and Sarguja have more suitable land available for agro-forestry. Hence, part of the land should also be utilized for agro-forestry. The required improvements for agro-forestry in their lands will be deliberated by the State Government.He said that tribal people are emotionally attached to the natural greenery. And this love of tribal people towards nature should be utilized to generate income source for them through agro-forestry.
The Chief Secretary said that 44 per cent area of the State is covered with forest. Including the revenue forests, forest cover stretches over roughly half of the State. Out of 19,000 populated villages of the State, about 11200 villages fall under the 5 km circumference area around forests. About 40 per cent of the population is dependent on forests for livelihood. This makes state's Forest Department and its officials even more accountable towards them.
He further said that forest resources yields around Rs 400 cr as revenue to the State government. At the meeting, Dhand also took information about the collection and trade of tendu patta and other small forest produces.Principal Secretary to Forest Department Amitabh Jain, Chief Forest Conservator AK Singh along with other senior officials of the headquarters, Forest Conservators and Divisional Forest Officers from other districts were present at the meeting.Managing Director of State Forest Development Corporation Dr A Bajaj and Chief Wildlife Conservator Ramprakash were also present.