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.