DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Forest Resource Management Project committee has granted the first installment of Rs 75 crore for the Rs 807 crore project to strengthen Van Panchayats in the state. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is funding 85% of the total project cost in Uttarakhand.
There are a total of 12,000 Van Panchayats in the state, out of which 750 have been selected under the JICA funded scheme. The concept of Van Panchayat in the state where people control some 16% of the forest land which comes to around 5.45 lakh hectares forest land is unique in the country.
With this project the authorities expect to help the locals build a livelihood in and around the forest areas, reduce forest degradation and also train them on disaster management.
Anup Malik, director of JICA said, the first installment of this eight-year project will be utilized in training the members of Van Panchayat. "It is for the first time that such a big international project has been dedicated exclusively to Van Panchayats in the state. With the first installment, we will train them in various vocations to better their livelihood options. The project will be started in 13 divisions of the state."
Malik also said that people would take up different activities after proper training from experts in soil conservation, landslide control and recovery of degraded forest land.
Moreover, the disaster-affected people in five districts of the state, namely Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh will also be trained in disaster management. Under this scheme, people will learn the methods pertaining to evacuation, making makeshift ropeways and survival techniques.
Rajender Mahajan, principal chief conservator of forests (Van Panchyat) said, "Besides JICA, Rs 10 crore under the central CAMPA scheme, Rs 2.5 crore under Forest Development Agency (FDA) scheme and another Rs 5 crore by ministry of environment and forests is being given for empowerment of Van Panchayats in the state."
There are a total of 12,000 Van Panchayats in the state, out of which 750 have been selected under the JICA funded scheme. The concept of Van Panchayat in the state where people control some 16% of the forest land which comes to around 5.45 lakh hectares forest land is unique in the country.
With this project the authorities expect to help the locals build a livelihood in and around the forest areas, reduce forest degradation and also train them on disaster management.
Anup Malik, director of JICA said, the first installment of this eight-year project will be utilized in training the members of Van Panchayat. "It is for the first time that such a big international project has been dedicated exclusively to Van Panchayats in the state. With the first installment, we will train them in various vocations to better their livelihood options. The project will be started in 13 divisions of the state."
Malik also said that people would take up different activities after proper training from experts in soil conservation, landslide control and recovery of degraded forest land.
Moreover, the disaster-affected people in five districts of the state, namely Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh will also be trained in disaster management. Under this scheme, people will learn the methods pertaining to evacuation, making makeshift ropeways and survival techniques.
Rajender Mahajan, principal chief conservator of forests (Van Panchyat) said, "Besides JICA, Rs 10 crore under the central CAMPA scheme, Rs 2.5 crore under Forest Development Agency (FDA) scheme and another Rs 5 crore by ministry of environment and forests is being given for empowerment of Van Panchayats in the state."
TOI
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