Biannual
LkR;eso t;rs
Vol. 6 No. 3
Jan-Jan Sanjivani Van Abhiyan
A new ambitious programme “JAN-JAN SANJIVANI
VAN ABHIYAN” was launched by the Himachal
Pradesh Government during the year 2008 to make
Himachal, a herbal state. More than 15 lac medicinal
plants were distributed through 4,887 plant
distribution outlets covering 12,47,847 and 1,26,308
households in rural and urban areas, respectively. In
order to continue this ambitious plantation drive of
medicinal plants, involving Joint Forest Management
Committees (JFMCs) and the local communities,
Sanjha Van Sanjivini Van programme has been
launched in the state. As an awareness generation
exercise regarding socio-religious importance of tree
planting, through involvement of the village
communities, especially aged old person, a
July-December 2009
executed under National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (NAREGA) to conserve soil and water
for improving moisture regime by recharging the
ground water. In addition, to encourage the people to
grow trees on their private lands, to increase tree
coverage in Himachal “ Apna Van-Apna Dhan”
scheme has also been initiated. To make Himachal
Pradesh, a Carbon Neutral State in the country and
also to reduce the effect of Green House Gas
Emission, a Bio-Carbon Sub Project under the MidHimalayan Watershed Development Project has
been approved by the Government of India and
agreed in principle to be funded by the world bank.
Implementation of the project will benefit people by
protecting the forests and planting trees to generate
carbon revenue to the state. Promotion and
development of eco-tourism in the state by attracting
individual entrepreneurs/local groups for investment
in eco-tourism activities, for up-gradation of tourist
infrastructure in Eco-tourism circuits, maintaining
and upgrading existing forest rest houses/inspection
huts in the state covering remote villages/areas
under public-private partnership scheme. It will
create employment opportunity to local inhabitants,
as the State Government policy recommends to
employ at least 70 per cent locals. This year, 23 forest
rest houses/inspection huts have been selected for
promotion and development of eco-tourism in the
state. In order to effectively deal with the organized
forest crimes, six VAN THANAs are in operational in
sensitive areas of the state.
(Source: Himachal Pradesh State Forest Department, Shimla)
Biological Diversity Day
programme for planting of Pipal (Ficus religiosa) and
Bargad (Ficus bengalensis) trees in the identified
villages was initiated. About 8000 Pipal and Bargad
plants, over 3057 identified villages throughout the
state, were planted during 2009. A new scheme “Van
Sarovar” has also been launched and is being
International Day for Biological Diversity was
celebrated on Dec. 29, 2009 by the Regional Centre,
Solan at LLR Group of Institutes, Kyar near
Oachghat. A painting competition was organized
amongst students with the aim to create awareness
regarding the importance of biological diversity in
human life.
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NAEBnews
National Afforestation and Ecodevelopment Board, MoEF, Gol
Protection of Ozone Layer Day
The Regional Centre, Solan organized “International
day for Protection of ozone layer” on September 16,
2009. A declamation contest was organized in
collaboration with College of Forestry, Dr YS Parmar
University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni in
which 27 contestants participated.
consumers was the first preference, second choice
goes to middleman and the third choice was
shopkeepers. On an average the households were
earning minimum Rs. 10,000 per annum and as high
as Rs. 1,00,000 perm annum from these forest based
enterprises. All the entrepreneurs are facing hardship
in the availability of raw material, the conventional
technology, marketing and low price of the produce
are some other problems. It appears that future of
many of the SMFEs, is at stake. In order to make
these enterprises economically viable, problems of
the entrepreneurs need to be addressed upon. Some
amendments in the policy intervention and
assistance from the government institutions is
required beside involvement of the non governmental
organizations (NGOs).
Small and Medium Forest
Enterprises (SMFEs)
Workshop on Safe Implementation
and Shortcoming of National
Afforestation Programme (NAP)
Study on small and medium forest enterprises based
on natural resources was carried out in low mid and
high hills of Himachal Pradesh. Most commonly
practiced enterprises were bamboo baskets, ropes,
pattal, anardana, brooms, mats neoza and a few
medicinal plants such as Kala zira, dhup, karoo, kuth
and guchhi (edible wild mushroom). In low hills, the
enterprises were largely owned by households
belonging to schedule caste category (SC), in mid
hills entrepreneurs belonged to all castes, where as
in high hills SMFEs were dominated by Schedule
Tribe communities. Nearly eighty five per cent of the
raw material was collected from forests and 15 per
cent from private lands. Selling produce directly to
Workshop for the state level Heads of the Forest
Departments of three states for the implementation
and shortcomings of NAP was conducted on August
27, 2009. The participants included Vice Chancellor,
PCCF, Former PCCF, CCF's DIG, CF, DIG, DFO's,
Range Officer's and members of FDA's. Important
shortcoming for the implementation of NAP in hilly
states was observed to be the grazing pressure
which has resulted in the mortality of plantations.
Besides this, overlapping of different afforestation
activities also created confusion. Safe
implementation of NAP scheme should include
growing of medicinal plants, wild fruits, provision of
fencing, proper training and exposure visits beside
NAEBnews
awards. Subsequently, enhancement of labour rates
in the state under NAP due to rise in price should be at
par with the rates provided by FDA.
Income Generating Activities (IGAs)
through SMFE
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mushroom cultivation, floriculture and vermicomposting. All the participants desired for the
exposure visit to some existing role model SHGs
running units, market or other institutions/ societies
which have adopted the similar kind of activities.
Training on Cultivation, Value
Addition and Marketing of Medicinal
and Aromatic Plants (M&P) for Rural
Upliftment for the Farmers in HP
The Regional Centre has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Department of
Science, Environment and Technologies,
Government of Himachal Pradesh for conducting a
series of trainings on cultivation of medicinal and
aromatic plants in Pacchad, Mashobra, Rampur,
Chirgaon and Bilaspur Saddar Development Blocks
of Shimla, Sirmour and Bilaspur districts. Two
hundred twelve farmers have been acquainted so far
on the cultivation and marketing practices of
Kalmegh, Aloe vera, Geranium etc. in
DaroDeveriya, Naina-Tikkar and Kotla-Panjola of
Pacchad block. The trainings were conducted during
November-December, 2009.
FDA Evaluation-Bilawar
Solan at Tripura. Training was imparted to
participants who prepared various articles of bamboo
which fetched remunerative price in the market than
their conventional items. The closing function was
presided over by the DFO, Dehra, who appreciated
the work of SHG and stressed that these works
should be a role model in the area for other SHGs or
villagers in enhancing their income.
Strengthening of Self Help Groups
(SHGs) in Himachal Pradesh
Training on strengthening of SHGs formed earlier by
Forest Department/Regional Centre, NAEB, Solan
was carried out in Dehra forest division. Self Help
Groups at four locations i.e. Baggi, Thalakan, Thill
and Bhranta were trained in record keeping and
account maintenance. These groups were motivated
to carry out the IGA activities to sustain their groups.
In total, 155 members including local villagers had
participated in the training rpogramme. Most of the
SHG members have demanded the IGA oriented
training on value addition of bamboo work,
The FDA Billawar (J&K) registered on 27-12-2001
treated 1,400 ha area during 2007-2008 and 20082009 with an out lay of Rs 354 lac.
A total of 8,359 households including 1,177 SC and
1,114 ST were benefited from the project. Over all
survival of the plants was assessed to be 48 per cent.
The assessment of the various activities of the FDA
was found to be satisfactory. The Entry point activities
(EPAs) were in accordance with the desire and need
of the people.
National Afforestation and Ecodevelopment Board, MoEF, Gol
The Regional Centre, Solan has organized training
on Income Generating Activities (IGAs) in village
Bilaspur of Dehra Forest Division (Kangra) wherein
15 participants (10 women and 5 men) of 3 Self Help
Groups (SHGs) were trained by the two trainers on
bamboo work, value addition/ bamboo artifact etc.
These trainers were trained by the Regional Centre,
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National Afforestation and Ecodevelopment Board, MoEF, Gol
FDA Evaluation-Kishtwar
The FDA Kishtwar (J&K) evaluation was carried out
during 2009. The socio-economic status of the
people was on subsistence as they have small land
holdings. Mostly, the people were migratory grazier
and keep large herds of cattle, goat and sheep, which
puts lot of grazing pressure on forest land. The area
treated during 2007-08 and 2008-09 was 1370 ha
with an outlay of Rs 356 Lac. A total of 5460
NAEBnews
Regional Centre, Kolkata
Banaj Shilpa Mela
A nine day 'Banaj Shilpa Mela' was organized by the
Regional Centre Jadavpur University, Kolkata at
Kalamandir ground, Bistupur, Jamshedpur in
collaboration with Department of Forests, Govt. of
Jharkhand under Small and Micro Forest Enterprise
(SMFEs) in Seraikela Forest Division, Jharkhand.
households including 960 SC and 1120 ST were
benefited under the project. In total 2,05,605 man
days were generated from 2007 to 2009. The EPAs
and other works undertaken were in accordance with
the needs and demand of the people. The survival of
the plants under afforestation activities was found to
be 76 per cent. Record keeping and documentation
was excellent, which can be adopted by other FDAs
in the state.
The main objective of
the mela was to
encourage and motivate
the SHG/JFMC
members of Ichagarh
block under Chandil
Range of Seraikela
Forest Division through
marketing exposure,
credit linkage and
interdepartmental
linkage.
Va r i o u s
products such as Floral
Dye based Scented Abir
and Candle, Grass mat
apparels made by
Gondha grass, Sabai grass based items, hand paper
masks, showpieces and utility goods crafted by
bamboos, mud molded beautiful items, Patkar
Painting, Lac melted jewelry products and different
other products were displayed in the stalls.
Workshops and discussion session were arranged
during day time. Direct exposure to the buyers and
lovers of handicrafts and other producers of mela
were facilitated including sales and suggestion for
value addition of the products.
NAEBnews
A New Breeze is Blowing –
Keep the Spirit Flowing
Rural Force from within the Forest Protection
Committees (FPCs), by uniting and mobilizing the
truly motivated members of well functioning FPCs to
meet, persuade and endeavor to prevent indifferent
members of FPCs from forest felling, monitor income
generating and forest protection activities. This Rural
Force has been named as Forest Protection and
Production Monitoring Group i.e. Ban O Jibika
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July-December 2009
5
making them functional and productive through
appropriate training under rigorous monitoring of the
Tadaraki Dal and building up linkage with appropriate
stake holders for income generation. Currently, 23
FPCs, around Ajodhya Hills, having over 33 SHGs
are functioning within the BANALAXMI which is being
monitored by 4 Tadaraki Dals. Good numbers of
Workshops, Trainings etc. for skill development of
SHG members and managerial capacity building of
Tadaraki Dal and SMFE management committee
members have been organised. Products like
medicinal plants and herbal products, Sal leaf plates,
Khejur leaf mats, Phool jharu, vegetables, Muri
(puffed rice), Biri, etc are being produced and
marketed.
Regional Centre, Shillong
Travelling Workshop
Travelling workshop for JFMC members from NorthEast India to other parts of the country to experience
successful linkages of FDAs with other agencies and
efforts to sustain JFMCs through alternate income
generating activities and organizing Self Help
Groups (SHGs) in Adilabad in Andhra Pradesh was
organized on September 26-27, 2009.
Training of Trainers (ToT)
Suraksha Tadaraki Dal (BJSTD) in Bengali or
Tadaraki Dal in short. It has been contemplated to
groom this Tadaraki Dal into forming Small and SMFE
by selecting capable members from the Dal to
provide sustained income to a good number of FPC
members, firstly, by forming vocation based SHGs,
The training programme on Microplanning, accounts
and book keeping in Mizoram was organized in the
Conference Hall of Environment & Forests
Department, Tuikhuahtlang, Aizawl from 11-14
November, 2009 in which members of the JFMCs /
Village Forest Development Committees, local
NGOs and middle level officials of Forest
Department participated. The training was
inaugurated by the Hon'ble Minister of Environment
National Afforestation and Ecodevelopment Board, MoEF, Gol
An initiative to save Ajodhya Forests through SMFE
development has been taken up by the Regional
Centre NAEB, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, in the
vicinity of the Ajodhya Hills in Purulia District. The
basic concept is to develop a strong and capable
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National Afforestation and Ecodevelopment Board, MoEF, Gol
& Forests, Government of Mizoram Sh. H Rohluna.
The Resource Persons comprised of the Senior
NAEBnews
Range Forest Officers (RFOs) and Forest
Department staff of respective ranges. The
improvement of socio economic status was based on
their income levels, education, cost of living, health
and other parameters. In forest fringes, dependence
of VFC/ villagers on the NTFPs for earning can be a
major factor influencing their status of living. Instead
of selling raw NTFPs, value added products if
prepared will fetch better price and profit. This leads
to higher income and increase in standard of living.
Various enterprises for value addition and higher
economic gains like preparation of tamarind cake,
soap nut powder, pickles, juice and murabba of Aonla
and other NTFPs, which have good demand in the
market were also elaborated.
Forest Officers including the Deputy Director
Accounts (E & F) and experts from Mizoram
University delivered lectures on relevant subjects
and interacted with the participants.
Regional Centre, Banglore
Workshop on Socio-economic
Assessment of Self Help Groups
(SHGs)
Workshop of various stakeholders on socioeconomic status assessment in capacity building of
SHGs, about formation of SHG, and accounting for
Small and Medium Forest Enterprises (SMFE) was
conducted during August-October 2009. It was
attended by VFC/SHG members from 6 FDA villages
in Hosur Division, SR Shashidhar, Spearhead Team
Leader; Dr SN Vajranabhaiah, Core Group Member.
Workshop on Preparation of SMFE
Projects
A Workshop on “Preparation of SMFE project as per
requirement of JFMCs for SMFE activities in Hosur
FDA” was organized by RC, Bangalore on July 10,
2009 at Cattle Shed Farm, Mathigiri, Hosur, Tamil
Nadu. Resource persons from Banks and
Government funding Agencies like Agriculture,
Horticulture, Lead Bank Manager, Indian Bank,
Krishnagiri, Hosur, Indian Bank, Denkanikotta,
Assistant Project Officer, Tamil Nadu Women
NAEBnews
Bio-fuel production from Pongamia pinnata; Wood
apple products preparation Amla products,
beekeeping, Chigare powder and Acacia concinna
powder; Herbal Ingredients (Asperagus, Terminalia,
Decalepis); Raising of seedlings and grafted plants
of elite trees and medicinal plants; Basket making
from lantana and briquette making; Cup making from
Bamboo spathe; Broom making. For outsourcing,
projects on each identified SMFE activity with details
on cost and returns were presented in the presence
of a number of line departments and scheme heads
under different departments of government of Tamil
Nadu, which have provision for providing subsidy or
aid for the purchase of equipments to the SHGs and
to support the SMFE activities.
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July-December 2009
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Buyers and Sellers Meet
The Regional Centre, Bangalore, in collaboration
with Tamil Nadu Forest Department, Hosur Division
organized Buyers-Sellers Meet on value added NonTimber Forest Products at Parimalam Higher
Secondary School, Hosur in July 2009. Dr V
Bhaskar, Coordinator, RC, NAEB, Bangalore
explained the purpose of the meet. A number of
products prepared by the SHGs and Village Forest
Committee members of the Hosur Forest Division
were on display and sale. Some of the high value
products which were in great demand were wood
apple juice (Beladahannu), Tamarind cake, Tamarind
candy, Seegekai powder, chigare powder, herbal
products and others. About 180 people including
farmers, SHG members, students, environmentalists, local buyers, traders attended the meet.
The state level meeting of Buyers-Sellers was
conducted from November 19-22, 2009 at University
of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore. It was
visited by more than 3 lac people including farmers,
merchants / buyers.
National Afforestation and Ecodevelopment Board, MoEF, Gol
Development Corporation representatives from
Natural Remedies, Denkanikotta, Traders of Hosur
had participated. Other participants included, Forest
Range Officers, Foresters, Presidents of VFCs, SHG
representatives and other officers of the Department.
Dr V Bhaskar, Coordinator made presentations on 11
projects viz. value added products of Tamarind –
cake making, juice, paste preparation, chocolate
making, Tamarind Seed Kernel Powder (TKP) etc.;
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National Afforestation and Ecodevelopment Board, MoEF, Gol
Exposure Visits
1. Exposure visit to the selected JFMCs presidents,
Member Secretaries and SHG members to
successful JFM based enterprises sites - Natural
Remedies, Anniyalam, Hosur, Tamil Nadu was
organized on October 9, 2009. The participants
were exposed to nursery raising, medicinal plant
collection, cultivation, storing, processing and
marketing. Practical training on preparation of
semi processed medicines was also given to
SHG members.
2. Two days “Exposure visit of selected user
groups, Village Forest Committee members,
SHG Members and farmers to see value addition
to bamboo and agarbatti making in Adilabad
District, Andhra Pradesh” was organized by RC,
NAEB, Bangalore on December 18-19, 2009 at
DFO Complex, Mancherial, Adilabad District,
Andhra Pradesh. The Training Programme was
inaugurated by Sh M Darshanam, IFS, Divisional
Forest Officer, Mancherial Division. The Training
Programme was attended by 33 participants
including Vana Samrakshana Samiti (VSS)
members, SHG members, farmers from
NAEBnews
Southern States, Forest Department staff,
Mancherial and staff of Regional Centre,
Bangalore. The members recommended that
Agarbatti manufacturing companies should tie up
with the VSS members for continuous supply of
sticks and involve SHG members for preparation
agarbatties.
Dr Parvinder Kaushal joined back
as Regional Coordinator/ Director
in the Regional Centre on
31st December, 2009 after serving
for 4 years as Dean, Faculty of
F o r e s t r y, B i r s a A g r i c u l t u r e
University, Ranchi, Jharkhand.
Dr Kaushal comes from 1976 batch
of M.Sc. Forestry from Solan and
has obtained Doctorate in Forestry
from France. He has visited more than 18 countries
and has served in many national and international
bodies. His major contribution includes forestry
education, watershed management, agroforestry
and human resource management. He had earlier
served as Coordinator from 1995-2005.
Chief Editor : Dr P Kaushal
Editors : Dr J K Dubey & Dr M K Brahmi
Designed by : Pawan Sharma & Devender Rathore
Published by Dr P Kaushal, Regional Coordinator/ Director, RC on behalf of NAEB, MoEF, GoI and printed at Duttagraphics, Solan-9816312929