(a) whether the Union Government has instituted any award and special cash prize for the
States, UTs and District Administrations for planting large number of saplings/free planting and
for contribution in the field of afforestation;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the number of such awards given during the last three years
and the current year, State-wise; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to promote the cultivation of saplings/tree planting in
the country?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORSEST(SHRI S. REGUPATHY)
(a) and (b) The Ministry of Environment and Forests has decided to institute Awards to the
States/UTs which contribute in enhancing the percentage of forest and tree cover in the respective
States/UTs.These awards would be in the form of cash prizes and citations to be presented once in
two years on the basis of the State of Forest Report published by the Forest Survey of India.No
awards have been presented yet.
(c) The Ministry of Environment and Forests is implementing a number of schemes,including the
National Afforestation Programme scheme and the Grants-in-Aid for Greening India scheme, which
contribute to increase in forest and tree cover in the country.The Ministry has also mooted Gram
Van Yojana scheme for afforestation of non-forest lands involving Panchayati Raj Institutions
during the Eleventh Five Year Plan.Besides,tree planting is one of the permissible activity in the
schemes of other Ministries including Integrated Watershed Management Programme, National Rural
Employment Guarantee Scheme, National Bamboo Mission, etc.