(a) whether the Government has taken any steps toincrease the forest cover in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the funds disbursed to States by the Government during the last three years, States/UTs-wise;
(c) whether the Government has taken steps to increase public awareness on animal rights; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)
(a) & (b) Various schemes are being implemented by Central and State Government/Union Territory
Administration for improvement of forest coverin the country. These include National Afforestation Programme (NAP) and Green India Mission (GIM) being implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Afforestation activities are also taken up under various programmes/funding sources such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, PradhanMantriKrishiSinchayeeYojana, Compensatory Afforestation Funds under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). Afforestation activities are also taken up under various schemes of State Government /UT Administration.
Besides, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is also implementing National Agroforestry Policy since 2014. One of the goal of the National Agroforestry Policy 2014 is meeting the ever increasing demand of timber, food, fuel, fodder, fertilizer, fibre and other agroforestry products, conserving the natural resources and forest; protecting the environment & providing environmental security; and increasing the forest/tree cover. Also, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root & tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo.
The State /UT-wise details of fund released under National Afforestation Programme
Green India Mission and Compensatory Afforestation Funds for the last three years are given in Annexure-I, II and III.
(c) & (d) The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), has taken steps for raising public awareness about animal welfare. It has issued several advisories and circulars to the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations for effective functioning of State Animal Welfare Boards/District Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, to prevent unnecessary pain or suffering to animals and to address issues related to cruelty to animals. The Board has also issued circulars regarding awareness during the World Rabies Day (28 September), World Animal Day (4 October), Animal Welfare Fort-Night Celebrations (14-30, January) and VasanthPanchami Celebrations every year. Further, the Board has nominated the representatives to co-ordinate with the State Governments regarding the issues pertaining to prevention of cruelty to animals, and is regularly issuing the authorization letter for the colony animal caretaker to encourage the compassionate citizens who are feeding the stray animals.
****