Dehradun: Uttarakhand government is likely to make amendments in the Van Panchayat Act to empower the van panchayats as well as connect them with livelihood. The state government is working out a plan for the cultivation of herbs and aromatic plants in the forest areas under the 11,217 Van Panchayats across the hill state.
In Uttarakhand, Van Panchayats are known for ensuring better management of the community forest. The Van Panchayat system has been existing in the state since 1931. Uttarakhand is an environmentally sensitive state having a vast forest area. Van Panchayats have their own role in conservation and promotion of the forest.
A project Herbal Mission is running in the state
Now, the state government aims to link the Van Panchayats with forest-based livelihoods. A project Herbal Mission with a cost of Rs 628 is already running in the state. Under the same mission, the government is now under plan to promote the cultivation of herbs and aromatic plants. The idea is to develop the Van Panchayat for the purpose of eco-tourism.
State government is likely to make amendments in the Van Panchayat Act
The state government is supposed to make amendments in the Van Panchayat Act to pave the way for linking the Van Panchayats with forest-based livelihood. The forest department has made a proposal in this regard. The government may give rights to the Van Panchayats to cultivate and extract herbs and aromatic plants. It will also be easy to set up processing units in the areas of Van Panchayats. The forest department is likely to place the proposal in the next meeting of the state cabinet.
The forest department has drawn the outline of SOP
Keeping in mind its plan for the cultivation of herbs and aromatic plants in the areas of Van Panchayats, the forest department has drawn the outline of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). The department has given emphasis to ensure the elections of Van Panchayats after every five years. The forest minister Subodh Uniyal has termed the initiative to link the Van Panchayats with forest-based livelihood as an effort to strengthen the relationship between “Van and Jan” (forest and people).
