Lok Sabha Question No. 1556 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-25
Subject: Van Mahotsav
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, ANTO  ANTONY, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, SUDHEER GUPTA, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1556

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2017

## Van Mahotsav

## 1556.   DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has observed 'Van Mahotsav' recently;
- (b) if so, the details of programmes organized during the 'Van Mahotsav' in the country;
- (c) whether the Government has laid emphasis on 'Van Dhan' to enhance the country's forest based economy and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of the schemes being implemented along with the funds allocated/ spent during each of the last three years and the current year for this purpose, scheme-wise; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to keep local people involved in plantation drives and spread environmental awareness in the country

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN):

- (a) & (b) Van Mahotsav is observed in the month of July every year by all States and Union Territories. The Ministry participated in the Van Mahotsav programme organized by Government of Rajasthan in the current year. During this event, more than five lakh seedlings were planted in Rajasthan.
- (c) Government of India has emphasized 'Van Dhan' strategy for the development  of  the  tribal  people  and  their  progress  with  forest  based economic  activities.  This  would  ensure  environment  protection,  ecological conservation and economic progress of the people in most ethical ways. No specific  scheme  has  been  formulated  on  'Van  Dhan'.  However,  for  the development  of  forest  resources  and  to  promote  forest  based  economy, Government of India is implementing number of forestry based schemes/programmes such as Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Intensification of Forest Management Scheme, Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat, Project  Tiger  etc.  Further,  to  increase  the  forest  cover  in  the  country, afforestation  programme  is  taken  up  under  various  Centrally  Sponsored

Schemes  such  as  National  Afforestation  Programme  (NAP),  Green  India Mission  (GIM),  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee Scheme  (MGNREGS),  the  Watershed  Development  Component  of  the 'Pradhan Mantri  Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)' etc. Further, the State Governments also take up various activities under their respective State Plan Schemes.

- (d) Government of India is implementing National Afforestation Programme and Green  India  Mission  for  afforestation  through  the  States/Union  Territories. Funds  released  during  each  of    last  three  years  and  current  year  are  as follows:

|        | Funds Released (Rs. In Crore)   | Funds Released (Rs. In Crore)   | Funds Released (Rs. In Crore)   | Funds Released (Rs. In Crore)   |
|--------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| Scheme | 2014-15                         | 2015-16                         | 2016-17                         | 2017-18                         |
| NAP    | 243.78                          | 94.16                           | 59.35                           | 0.00                            |
| GIM    | 0.00                            | 70.09                           | 41.25                           | 0.00                            |

State Governments/Union  Territories  also  take  up  various  afforestation activities under their respective plan schemes including from the funds under State Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

- (e) To  keep  the  local  people  involved  in  the  plantation  drives  and  spread environmental  awareness  in  the  country,  various  measures/  activities  are taken up by Government of India such as:
-  Observing Van Mahotsav during which seedlings are distributed among public and different organizations
-  Ensuring  participation  of  the  Joint  Forest  Management  Committees (JFMCs) and Eco Development Committees (EDCs) which are constituted from the local people in the forest fringe villages in plantation programmes  under  National  Afforestation  Programme  and  Green  India Mission etc.
-  Conducting  awareness  programmes  under  various  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme  including  under  National  Afforestation  Programme  and  Green India Mission.
-  Under Environmental Education, Awareness and Training (EEAT) scheme  of  this  Ministry,  the  following  programmes  are  undertaken  for spreading environment awareness in the country:
- (i) National  Green  Corps  programme  in  which  a  network  of  Eco-clubs has  been  established  in  schools  across  the  country  to  undertake activities on various environmental issues such as cleanliness drives, rally's, celebration of environmental days, plantation drives etc.
- (ii) National  Nature  Camping  Programme  wherein  the  students  are sensitized  about  nature  and  conservation  of  biodiversity,  natural resources  and  to  experience  with  nature  through  conduct  of  nature camps.
- (iii) National Environment Awareness Campaign wherein large number of NGOs, schools,  colleges,  universities,  professional  associations  and communities participate actively.

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