(a) whether the Vana Raksha Samithis have shown good potential in the recent past;
(b) if so, the steps proposed to be taken to increase the role of Vana Raksha Samithis;
(c) the names of States which are implementing this scheme;
(d) whether the Government propose to extend any financial assistance for such schemes; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI BABU LAL MARANDI)
(a) to (e) : Yes, Sir. As per the provisions of National Forest Policy, 1988, Government
of India on June 1, 1990 issued guidelines to the state governments for involving village
samithis and voluntary agencies for protection and regeneration of degraded forest lands.
Fresh guidelines have been issued by Government of India in February, 2000 to further
strengthen the Joint Forest Management Programme. As per information available, twenty
two states have accepted the concept of Joint Forest Management Programme and the same is
being implemented by them. The names of the states which have issued resolutions are Andhra
Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir,
Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan,
Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The state governments are
implementing various central and state plan schemes through these samithis and people`s
participation is mandatory in all the afforestation schemes of Government of India.