Question : Forest Land

(a) whether no Government scheme is implemented on forest land and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of schemes being implemented by his Ministry;
(c) the total area of forests under encroachment along with the action taken against persons responsible for such encroachment;
(d) whether the Government has formulated any scheme for the betterment of tribals living in forest areas and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the tribals living in the forest areas have ever caused any damage to the forest and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a)& (b)Government of India implements various schemes for conservation and development of forest areas, such as National Afforestation Programme (NAP) and Green India Mission (GIM) being implemented by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Afforestation and conservation activities are also taken up under various programmes/funding sources such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Pradhan MantriKrishiSinchayeeYojana (PMKSY), Compensatory Afforestation Fund, National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC), Climate Change Action Programme, Forest Fire Prevention and Management, Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats.

(c) The State/UTs wise details of forest areas under encroachment as per the information received from the State/UTs is annexed.The responsibility of protection and management of forests primarily lies with the State Forest Departments.For control and prevention of encroachment over forest land, action is taken under Indian Forest Act, 1927, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, State Specific Forest Acts and Rules & guidelines made thereunder.

(d) As per the information in Ministry of Tribal Affairs, there is no new policy/scheme for the economic upliftment of tribals at this stage. However, following schemes/programmes are being implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for betterment of Schedule Tribes (ST):-

S. No. Names of Schemes / Programmes
1. Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme for ST students
2. Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for ST students
3. National Overseas Scholarship for ST students for studying abroad
4. National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST students (a) Scholarship for Higher Education (earlier known as Top Class Education For ST Students). (b) Fellowship (earlier known as Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Scheme for ST students).
5. Grants-in-aid to Voluntary Organisationsworking for welfare of STs
6. Strengthening Education among ST Girls in Low Literacy Districts
7. Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
8. Grants under Article 275 (1) of the Constitution of India
9. Special Central Assistance(SCA) to Tribal Sub-Scheme(TSS)
10. Grants-in-aid to Tribal Research Institutes
11. Institutional Support for Development and Marketing of Tribal Products/Produce
12. Support to National/State Scheduled Tribe Finance and Development Corporations
13. Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Mechanism of marketing of Development of Value Chain for Minor Forest Produce)
14. Research Information & Mass Education, Tribal Festival and Others

(e) Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change does not have any information on any damage causedin forest by the tribals.


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