Bhopal:19 Apr:Forest Awareness Week is going to be organised in the state from April 21 to 26 with a view to giving fillip to the activities of Forest Committees constituted under Joint Forest Management. During the week, forest officers would convene meetings of Forest Committees where they would interact with villagers and prepare the strategy for better forest management after discussions with them. A decision has been taken to convene general body meeting of the forest committees so that its members and forest officers come together to chalk out a strategy with mutual cooperation. Discussions would also be held on socio-economic development of rural people apart from seeking their cooperation in better management of forest areas.
Regular meetings of Forest Committees would be held during the week and members would be apprised of their rights and duties. Information about various schemes of Forest Department would also be given. Besides, detailed discussions would be held on the creative role of the committees in achieving targets of the scheme.
The instructions of holding general body meeting have been issued by Forest Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah with a view to increasing activeness of Forest Management Committees. Information in easy language on various issues pertaining to forest management would be given to the members of Forest Committees. These issues include forest, water and land conservation, Tendu Patta collection, preparations for observing Bamboo Day, ill-effects of forest encroachment and maximum use of energy-saving equipment etc.
It may be mentioned that 14 thousand 428 Forest Committees were set up in the state under the concept of joint forest management. Through these committees, 20 lakh villagers are cooperating with Forest Department in the management of about 60 thousand square kilometre forest area. The Forest Department is carrying out forestry works successfully with the cooperation of these committees. It has been observed that these committees need to be made more empowered so that they can carrying out their work efficiently.