(a) whether the Government has any plan for a central role for local Panchyats in forest restoration and expansion in the Eleventh Five Year Plan
period to help the local tribals;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) Ministry of Environment and Forests seeks the full support and involvement of democratic grass root level institutions/ Panchayati Raj Institutions in forest restoration and expansion with the help of local people including tribals.
(b)to (d) The Ministry of Environment and Forests is providing funds to the States under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Afforestation Programme (NAP) for regeneration of degraded forests and adjoining areas through people’s participation in the country. The State-wise details of funds released to the States under the National Afforestation Programme Scheme during last three years (2008-09 to 2010-11) are given in Annexure.
Besides National Afforestation Programme, various Central Schemes/ Programmes like Thirteenth Finance Commission Grants for conservation and development of forests, Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) and State Schemes have component of afforestation/ tree planting.