Question : TRAINING TO FOREST PERSONNEL

(a) whether the Government has a comprehensive policy for training to the forest personnel in latest scientific and technological developments in the field of Forestry;

(b) if so, whether the Government has received proposals from States for setting up of forest academies for this purpose;

(c) if so, the details thereof including the names of the States from where such proposals have been received;

(d) whether funds have been allocated in this regard to the States; and

(e) if so, the details thereof, State-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS(SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)

(a) Yes, Sir.

(b)to (e) Government of India has recently started implementation of a project with financial assistance from Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA). The project is titled “Capacity Development for Forest Management & Training of Personnel” and envisages infrastructure improvements as well as improvements of course curriculum and training methodologies in the training institutions for the frontline forestry personnel in the various states.

Ten states have been selected for the implementation of the project which are Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal. There are three buffer states namely Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, in the eventuality of non implementation of the project in the original ten states. The participating states have been requested to furnish their consent for implementation of the project. The fund distribution among the participating states will depend upon the Training Improvement Plans to be prepared during the project period.The total project is of Rs.225.00 Crore with a time span of five years and three months.