Madhya Pradesh first in implementation of Forest Rights Act
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh is pioneer in the state in implementation of Forest Rights Act. The state has also been awarded for this. Under the Act, 1.50 lakh cases have been disposed of. This was informed at a meeting of advisory committee of Forest Department chaired by Forest Minister Shri Sartaj Singh here today. Minister of State for Forests Shri Jai Singh Marawi and MLAs Shri Prem Narayan Thakur, Shri Dashrath Lodhi and Shri Narayan Prajapati attended the meeting.
Forest Minister Shri Sartaj Singh Informed that over 700 PDS shops are being run through Forest Committees in remote forest areas of the state. It was informed at the meeting that Forest Department is arranging solar lights in the remote villages where there is shortage of power. In response to a suggestion at the meeting, it was informed that Forest Department gave in-principle consent to 41 cases of appointments on compassionate grounds in 2011, 90 in 2012 and 58 till June during year 2013.
Forest Department has chalked out a proposal for giving priority to recruitment of youths linking in villages near forests in which 20 percent marks have been reserved for IQ and inclination to work in rural environs/interior areas. If the proposal is approved by government, youths living in villages near forests will get adequate employment. The meeting also discussed in detail loss to crops by blackbucks and antelopes, construction of roads in forest areas, rest-houses, small drinking water sources for wild animals, relocation of revenue, forest and private land, forest extension scheme on private land etc.
Principal Secretary Forests Shri B.P. Singh and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Shri R.S. Negi also attended the meeting.
