Sunday, August 15, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION OF FOODGRAINS UNDER PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND OTHER WELFARE SCHEMES PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
The concept of Public Distribution System in the country was evolved around 1942 due to shortage of foodgrains during 2nd World War and Government intervention in distribution of food started. This intervention of Government in distribution of foodgrains in the food scarcity period and, thereafter, continued in major cities, towns & certain food deficit areas. This policy of Public Distribution System/Rationing System has undergone several changes with every lap of Five Year Planning System in the country. The Seventh Five Year Plan assigned to it a crucial role by bringing the entire population under Public Distribution System and became a permanent feature in the country's economy.
1.1 The Government of India fulfills certain objectives of food security through Public Distribution at an affordable price. In the present scenario, Public Distribution System strives to meet the twin objectives - the price support to the farmers for their product and maintenance of stocks. It is against these stocks procured under price support that every month Government releases a prescribed quantity, in each State for distribution under Public Distribution System. This mission of the Government of India is brought into the reality at the operational level by FCI. The Sales Division communicates the said allocation to its Regional Offices. On receipt of sub-allocation from the State Government, the Regional Offices issue the instructions to the District Offices for releasing the stocks to the respective State Government /their nominees on prepayment basis at district level.1.2 TARGETED PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM(T.P.D.S.)
Public Distribution System was widely criticised for its failure to serve the population below the poverty line, its urban bias, negligible coverage in the States with the highest concentration of the rural poor and lack of transport and accountable arrangements for delivery. Realising this, the GOI has introduced the TPDS scheme w.e.f. 1.6.1997 (w.e.f. 1.5.1997 for the states of Tripura, Haryana and Gujarat) to streamline the PDS by issuing special cards to the families below the poverty line and selling essential articles under PDS to them at a specially subsidised prices with better monitoring of the delivery system. This quantity is issued as rice or wheat or combination of both at BPL prices. The States fix Consumer End Prices (C.E.P). at FPS level at not more than fifty paise per Kg. Over the Central Issue Price (CIP) particularly for the population below the poverty line. The States are also free to add the quantum coverage and the subsidy from their own resources. Common verities of rice are reserved exclusively for the population Below Poverty Line.1.3 The scheme Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is effective all over the country. The allotment/lifting of wheat and rice under TPDS (BPL, APL & AAY) during last five years are as under:-
1.4 ANTYODAYA ANNA YOJNA
Govt. of India has decided to issue rice and wheat at the rate of Rs. 3/- per Kg. And Rs. 2/- per Kg., respectively to the poorest strata of population out of the earlier identified BPL population. The allocation and lifting of wheat and rice under this scheme during last five years is as under :
1.5 PRICING
The Government of India, Ministry of CA,F&PD has been fixing Central Issue Prices of wheat and rice from time to time which is uniform throughout the country. The present Central Issue price of wheat and rice effective from 1.7.2002 are as under:-
1.6 VALIDITYGovt. of India is allocating foodgrains (wheat and rice) under Targeted Public Distribution System on monthly basis and issues allocation order for the financial-year wise and makes further revision, if any, from time to time.Ministry during February 2008 has revised the instructions to steamlining of procedure regarding issuance and revalidation/extension of validity period for lifting of foodgrains under TPDS. The validity period for lifting of allocated foodgrains under TPDS will be 50 days for each allocation month separately, starting from 1st day of the month preceding the allocation month and ending on 20th day of the allocation month. For example, the validity period for the allocation for April will be from 1st March to 20th April.
Ministry has made it mandatory for State and UT Govt. to deposit the cost of foodgrains to FCI by 15th of the allocation month (crediting of the amount to the FCI accoubnt) and lifting is allowed within the validity period. Further, power delegated for extension of 15 days by Area Managers has been withdrawn and extension of validity period for 15 days can be granted only by Executive Director (Zone) in cases where State Govt has desposited the entire cost of allotment before 15th of the allocation month and when full quantity of allcoated foodgrains were not available during the validity period in the assigned or alternately assigned FCI depots.
1.7 QUALITY CONFIRMATIONThe foodgrains stocks are lifted by the State Govt./their nominees. Before issue of the stocks, they are allowed to verify the stocks and get themselves satisfied about the quality. Three representative samples are drawn and sealed with joint seal from the stocks issued. One is given to the recepient for displaying at the issue/sale point and two are retained by the FCI, one for depot and the other for District Office.
2.0 WELFARE SCHEMES
Food Corporation of India is also issuing foodgrains under various schemes of the Govt. of India viz. Mid-Day-Meal, Nutrition Programme, SC/ST/OBC Hostels, Welfare Institutions & Hostels, Annapurna, Sampoorn Gramin Rozgar Yojna (SGRY), National Food for Work Programme, Scheme for Adolscent Girls, Pregnant & Lactating Mothers and World Food Programme (WFP) etc. Schemewise details are as under :-
2.1 MID-DAY-MEAL(NATIONAL PROGRAMME OF NUTRITION SUPPORT TO PRIMARY EDUCATION)The GOI have introduced Mid Day Meal scheme- National Programme of Nutrition Support to Primary Education in Primary School in 2368 Employment Assurance Scheme(EAS)/ Revamped PDS Blocks/ Low Female Literacy Blocks w.e.f. 15th August, 1995. Under this Scheme, every child is entitled to 3 kgs. wheat/rice per month at the rate of 100 gms. per day.
The foodgrains are issued by FCI to the nominees of the District Collector without charging any cost from them. However, FCI was raising the monthly bills with MOHRD for claiming the Economic Cost of foodgrains supplied to each State/UT during the month till 31.10.2000. With effect from 1.11.2000 foodgrains under this scheme are being released at the rates applicable to BPL families. A revolving fund to the tune of Rs. 300 crores has already been provided to FCI by MOHRD. Strict Instructions have been issued to the issuing authorities that only good quality of foodgrains be issued under the scheme.
The Ministry of HRD has also extended the NP-NSPE popularly called the Mid day Meal Scheme to the students studying in Primary classes( I to V) in Education Guarantee Scheme(EGS) centres and other alternative education in the States of West Bengal & Assam from January, 2003. From October 2007 the scheme has further extended upto middle standard (VIth to VIIIth). Under this Scheme, every child is entitled to 150 gms. of foodgrains per school day.Details of allotment and lifting during last five years are as under :-
2.3 SC/ST/OBC HOSTELS & WELFARE INSTITUTIONS
The Ministry of CAF&PD and the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has to monitor the Scheme for providing foodgrains to SC/ST/OBC Hostels. Hostels having students belonging to SC/ST/OBC categories are eligible to draw 15 Kgs. foodgrains per resident per month.
The Government of India w.e.f. 2.11.2000 has decided that foodgrains (wheat/rice) will also be allotted to the State Governments at the rate of 5 Kg per head per month for indigent people living in Welfare Institutions, such as, Beggar Homes, Homes for Nari Niketan etc. sponsored by the State Govts. and the concerned UT administration. Foodgrains are supplied by FCI at BPL rates. It is clarified that from the year 2002-2003, the MOCAF&PD has been making monthly allotment equivalent to 5% of BPL allotment of the State/UT under the head “Welfare Institutions & Hostels” to meet the requirement of the State/UT for providing foodgrains to different type of welfare institutions. Since April 2005, the Ministry of CAF&PD has enhanced quota of allotment under this scheme to 5% of the monthly allotment made under BPL & AAY. Further, the criterion for making the allotment has been changed by the Department of Food & Public Distribution and the allocation is now being made on the basis of average offtake of last three years.The details of quantities allotted and lifted by the State/UT Govts. during last five years are as under :-
2.4 ANNAPURNA SCHEME
The Union Finance Minister in his Budget Speech for the year, 1999-2000, announced a programme of Food Security for the destitues of aged 65 years and above entitled "Annapurna " under which 10 Kgs. of foodgrains pr month are to be provided, free of cost, to all indigent seniour citizens who are eligible for Old Age Pension under the National Old Age Pension Scheme(NOAPS) but are, presently, not receiving the same. This scheme has been approved by the Govt.of India and has been launched from April 2000.
The Nodal Agency for implementing this scheme was the Deptt. of Rural Development in the Union Ministry of Rural Development and allocated funds under the said scheme in favour of all the States & UTs for the year 2000-2001. The foodgrain under this scheme is being issued at BPL rates w.e.f. 1.11.2000. Since, 2002-03 the Annapurna Scheme was transferred to the State Plan and no state-wise allocation of funds and foodgrains were made by the Ministry of Rural Development. Presently, the allotment under Annapurna Scheme is being made by Ministry of CAF&PD on monthly basis.The details of allotment & lifting under this scheme are as under :-
2.5 SAMPOORN GRAMIN ROZGAR YOJNA (SGRY)
Govt. of India introduced Sampoorn Gramin Rozgar Yojna during October, 2001, covering two different schemes namely Jawahar Gramin Smriddhi Yojna (JGSY) & Employment Assuarance Scheme (EAS). The said 2 schemes have now been merged and named as SGRY-normal. Besides this foodgrains are also allotted under Special Component of SGRY to drought / flood affected areas. Wheat and rice under this scheme is issued free of cost to the States/UTs and subsequently bills are raised at Economic Cost with the Ministry of Rural Development. The scheme has been suspended w.e.f. 1.4.2008.
The details of allocation & offtke under SGRY including Special Component are as under :
2.6 NATIONAL FOOD FOR WORK PROGRAMME(NFFWP)
Hon‟ble Prime Minister of India has launched National Food For Work Programme in identified 150 most backward districts of the country during the month of November 2004. Under this scheme, the labour is engaged for development works and then a part of their wages is given as foodgrains. Under this scheme, foodgrains are issued free of cost to the States/UTs and bills are subsequently raised with MORD at BPL rates.
In the beginning a quantity of 20 lakh MTs of foodgrains were allotted by the Ministry of Rural Development for the year 2004-2005 which was valid for lifting upto 30th June 2005 and allotment to the tune of 9 Lakh MT for the year 2005-06 was valid upto 30th June 2006. Further, there is no allocation made for the year 2006-07.
The details of allotment and offtake under NFFWP are as under :-
The concept of Public Distribution System in the country was evolved around 1942 due to shortage of foodgrains during 2nd World War and Government intervention in distribution of food started. This intervention of Government in distribution of foodgrains in the food scarcity period and, thereafter, continued in major cities, towns & certain food deficit areas. This policy of Public Distribution System/Rationing System has undergone several changes with every lap of Five Year Planning System in the country. The Seventh Five Year Plan assigned to it a crucial role by bringing the entire population under Public Distribution System and became a permanent feature in the country's economy.
1.1 The Government of India fulfills certain objectives of food security through Public Distribution at an affordable price. In the present scenario, Public Distribution System strives to meet the twin objectives - the price support to the farmers for their product and maintenance of stocks. It is against these stocks procured under price support that every month Government releases a prescribed quantity, in each State for distribution under Public Distribution System. This mission of the Government of India is brought into the reality at the operational level by FCI. The Sales Division communicates the said allocation to its Regional Offices. On receipt of sub-allocation from the State Government, the Regional Offices issue the instructions to the District Offices for releasing the stocks to the respective State Government /their nominees on prepayment basis at district level.1.2 TARGETED PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM(T.P.D.S.)
Public Distribution System was widely criticised for its failure to serve the population below the poverty line, its urban bias, negligible coverage in the States with the highest concentration of the rural poor and lack of transport and accountable arrangements for delivery. Realising this, the GOI has introduced the TPDS scheme w.e.f. 1.6.1997 (w.e.f. 1.5.1997 for the states of Tripura, Haryana and Gujarat) to streamline the PDS by issuing special cards to the families below the poverty line and selling essential articles under PDS to them at a specially subsidised prices with better monitoring of the delivery system. This quantity is issued as rice or wheat or combination of both at BPL prices. The States fix Consumer End Prices (C.E.P). at FPS level at not more than fifty paise per Kg. Over the Central Issue Price (CIP) particularly for the population below the poverty line. The States are also free to add the quantum coverage and the subsidy from their own resources. Common verities of rice are reserved exclusively for the population Below Poverty Line.1.3 The scheme Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is effective all over the country. The allotment/lifting of wheat and rice under TPDS (BPL, APL & AAY) during last five years are as under:-
1.4 ANTYODAYA ANNA YOJNAGovt. of India has decided to issue rice and wheat at the rate of Rs. 3/- per Kg. And Rs. 2/- per Kg., respectively to the poorest strata of population out of the earlier identified BPL population. The allocation and lifting of wheat and rice under this scheme during last five years is as under :
1.5 PRICINGThe Government of India, Ministry of CA,F&PD has been fixing Central Issue Prices of wheat and rice from time to time which is uniform throughout the country. The present Central Issue price of wheat and rice effective from 1.7.2002 are as under:-
1.6 VALIDITYGovt. of India is allocating foodgrains (wheat and rice) under Targeted Public Distribution System on monthly basis and issues allocation order for the financial-year wise and makes further revision, if any, from time to time.Ministry during February 2008 has revised the instructions to steamlining of procedure regarding issuance and revalidation/extension of validity period for lifting of foodgrains under TPDS. The validity period for lifting of allocated foodgrains under TPDS will be 50 days for each allocation month separately, starting from 1st day of the month preceding the allocation month and ending on 20th day of the allocation month. For example, the validity period for the allocation for April will be from 1st March to 20th April.
Ministry has made it mandatory for State and UT Govt. to deposit the cost of foodgrains to FCI by 15th of the allocation month (crediting of the amount to the FCI accoubnt) and lifting is allowed within the validity period. Further, power delegated for extension of 15 days by Area Managers has been withdrawn and extension of validity period for 15 days can be granted only by Executive Director (Zone) in cases where State Govt has desposited the entire cost of allotment before 15th of the allocation month and when full quantity of allcoated foodgrains were not available during the validity period in the assigned or alternately assigned FCI depots.
1.7 QUALITY CONFIRMATIONThe foodgrains stocks are lifted by the State Govt./their nominees. Before issue of the stocks, they are allowed to verify the stocks and get themselves satisfied about the quality. Three representative samples are drawn and sealed with joint seal from the stocks issued. One is given to the recepient for displaying at the issue/sale point and two are retained by the FCI, one for depot and the other for District Office.
2.0 WELFARE SCHEMES
Food Corporation of India is also issuing foodgrains under various schemes of the Govt. of India viz. Mid-Day-Meal, Nutrition Programme, SC/ST/OBC Hostels, Welfare Institutions & Hostels, Annapurna, Sampoorn Gramin Rozgar Yojna (SGRY), National Food for Work Programme, Scheme for Adolscent Girls, Pregnant & Lactating Mothers and World Food Programme (WFP) etc. Schemewise details are as under :-
2.1 MID-DAY-MEAL(NATIONAL PROGRAMME OF NUTRITION SUPPORT TO PRIMARY EDUCATION)The GOI have introduced Mid Day Meal scheme- National Programme of Nutrition Support to Primary Education in Primary School in 2368 Employment Assurance Scheme(EAS)/ Revamped PDS Blocks/ Low Female Literacy Blocks w.e.f. 15th August, 1995. Under this Scheme, every child is entitled to 3 kgs. wheat/rice per month at the rate of 100 gms. per day.
The foodgrains are issued by FCI to the nominees of the District Collector without charging any cost from them. However, FCI was raising the monthly bills with MOHRD for claiming the Economic Cost of foodgrains supplied to each State/UT during the month till 31.10.2000. With effect from 1.11.2000 foodgrains under this scheme are being released at the rates applicable to BPL families. A revolving fund to the tune of Rs. 300 crores has already been provided to FCI by MOHRD. Strict Instructions have been issued to the issuing authorities that only good quality of foodgrains be issued under the scheme.
The Ministry of HRD has also extended the NP-NSPE popularly called the Mid day Meal Scheme to the students studying in Primary classes( I to V) in Education Guarantee Scheme(EGS) centres and other alternative education in the States of West Bengal & Assam from January, 2003. From October 2007 the scheme has further extended upto middle standard (VIth to VIIIth). Under this Scheme, every child is entitled to 150 gms. of foodgrains per school day.Details of allotment and lifting during last five years are as under :-
2.3 SC/ST/OBC HOSTELS & WELFARE INSTITUTIONSThe Ministry of CAF&PD and the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has to monitor the Scheme for providing foodgrains to SC/ST/OBC Hostels. Hostels having students belonging to SC/ST/OBC categories are eligible to draw 15 Kgs. foodgrains per resident per month.
The Government of India w.e.f. 2.11.2000 has decided that foodgrains (wheat/rice) will also be allotted to the State Governments at the rate of 5 Kg per head per month for indigent people living in Welfare Institutions, such as, Beggar Homes, Homes for Nari Niketan etc. sponsored by the State Govts. and the concerned UT administration. Foodgrains are supplied by FCI at BPL rates. It is clarified that from the year 2002-2003, the MOCAF&PD has been making monthly allotment equivalent to 5% of BPL allotment of the State/UT under the head “Welfare Institutions & Hostels” to meet the requirement of the State/UT for providing foodgrains to different type of welfare institutions. Since April 2005, the Ministry of CAF&PD has enhanced quota of allotment under this scheme to 5% of the monthly allotment made under BPL & AAY. Further, the criterion for making the allotment has been changed by the Department of Food & Public Distribution and the allocation is now being made on the basis of average offtake of last three years.The details of quantities allotted and lifted by the State/UT Govts. during last five years are as under :-
2.4 ANNAPURNA SCHEME
The Union Finance Minister in his Budget Speech for the year, 1999-2000, announced a programme of Food Security for the destitues of aged 65 years and above entitled "Annapurna " under which 10 Kgs. of foodgrains pr month are to be provided, free of cost, to all indigent seniour citizens who are eligible for Old Age Pension under the National Old Age Pension Scheme(NOAPS) but are, presently, not receiving the same. This scheme has been approved by the Govt.of India and has been launched from April 2000.
The Nodal Agency for implementing this scheme was the Deptt. of Rural Development in the Union Ministry of Rural Development and allocated funds under the said scheme in favour of all the States & UTs for the year 2000-2001. The foodgrain under this scheme is being issued at BPL rates w.e.f. 1.11.2000. Since, 2002-03 the Annapurna Scheme was transferred to the State Plan and no state-wise allocation of funds and foodgrains were made by the Ministry of Rural Development. Presently, the allotment under Annapurna Scheme is being made by Ministry of CAF&PD on monthly basis.The details of allotment & lifting under this scheme are as under :-
2.5 SAMPOORN GRAMIN ROZGAR YOJNA (SGRY)
Govt. of India introduced Sampoorn Gramin Rozgar Yojna during October, 2001, covering two different schemes namely Jawahar Gramin Smriddhi Yojna (JGSY) & Employment Assuarance Scheme (EAS). The said 2 schemes have now been merged and named as SGRY-normal. Besides this foodgrains are also allotted under Special Component of SGRY to drought / flood affected areas. Wheat and rice under this scheme is issued free of cost to the States/UTs and subsequently bills are raised at Economic Cost with the Ministry of Rural Development. The scheme has been suspended w.e.f. 1.4.2008.
The details of allocation & offtke under SGRY including Special Component are as under :
2.6 NATIONAL FOOD FOR WORK PROGRAMME(NFFWP)
Hon‟ble Prime Minister of India has launched National Food For Work Programme in identified 150 most backward districts of the country during the month of November 2004. Under this scheme, the labour is engaged for development works and then a part of their wages is given as foodgrains. Under this scheme, foodgrains are issued free of cost to the States/UTs and bills are subsequently raised with MORD at BPL rates.
In the beginning a quantity of 20 lakh MTs of foodgrains were allotted by the Ministry of Rural Development for the year 2004-2005 which was valid for lifting upto 30th June 2005 and allotment to the tune of 9 Lakh MT for the year 2005-06 was valid upto 30th June 2006. Further, there is no allocation made for the year 2006-07.
The details of allotment and offtake under NFFWP are as under :-
Thursday, August 12, 2010
ECOSYSTEM
For extensive and intensive faunal exploration of various regions, a number of Regional and Field Stations have been established and it would be worthwhile to give here the exploration activities of the Department in different ecosystems.
(i) Estuarine and Marine Surveys:
India has a long coast line of about 7000 km and the marine ecosystem offers a rich biological resource, much of which remains to be explored. Estuarine and marine animals are collected to study the faunal status and composition and their interaction with the marine ecosystems. Survey of faunal resources of estuarine areas, brackish-water lakes and back-waters of the eastern coast of India have been recently taken up by the newly established Estuarine Biological Research Station at Gopalpur on Sea, Ganjam, Orissa.
(ii) Mangrove Faunal Surveys:
Mangroves are considered the nursery of nature, specially for the living forms of marine environment. For the collection and study of mangrove organisms, faunistic surveys are being undertaken in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sunderbans (West Bengal) and Pitchavaram Islands (Tamil Nadu). The fauna is being thoroughly studied to assess the quantitative and qualitative distribution in these areas.
(iii) Island Surveys:
The scope of studying the insular characteristics of fauna has been much enhanced with the establishment of a Regional Station at Port Blair in the South Andamans. The scientists of this Station, in collaboration with others, especially from Headquarters at Calcutta and from the Marine Biological Station, Chennai.
(iv) Western Ghats Surveys:
Western Ghats offer one of the richest biological resources, yet to be fully explored for formulation of a management plan. The scientists of the Western Regional Station, Pune and the Western Ghats Field Station, Calicut, are entrusted with the study and collection of the rich and diverse fauna of the Ghat areas.
(v) Tropical Rain Forests Surveys
The exploration of rich and diverse fauna, occurring in the tropical rain forests in the Ghat areas of Western India as well as in the rugged topography of north-east India, is one of the priority activities of Z.S.I. Two Regional Stations, one at Pune and another at Kozhilkode, are conducting active field explorations in the Ghat areas as already mentioned, while the Eastern Regional Station at Shillong, Field Station at New Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh and parties of the Headquarters regularly survey north-eastern India.
(vi) High Altitude Surveys:
The scientists of the High Altitude Zoology Field Station, Solan, Northern Regional Station, Dehra Dun and the Headquarters are studying the Himalayan mountain fauna in respect of their vertical distribution and survival potentiality in the extreme temperate climatic condition.
(vii) Desert Surveys:
Desertification of some areas all over the world poses a major problem to United Nations Environmental Programme and the desert region in India offers one of the major study areas. Z.S.I. has not overlooked the importance of studying the desert animals with particular reference to their adaptations, survival potentiality and their possible role in desertification. Desert Regional Station at Jodhpur conducts faunistic survey on different groups of animals of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
(viii) Freshwater Resources Surveys:
The Scientists of the Survey are taking keen interest to explore the aquatic fauna specially sponges, molluscs, crustaceans (prawns, shrimps, crabs, etc.) and fishes from the major freshwater resources in the country. Freshwater Biological Station at Hyderabad is involved in the limnological investigations in some major lentic water bodies, wetlands of national and international importance.STATUS SURVEY:
Approximately 90,000 species of animals are known from India of which Fish account for 2,546 species; Amphibia, 210 species; Reptilia, 428 species; Birds, 2,000 species and subspecies; Mammals, 397 species and subspecies; the rest being represented by other faunal elements. Of these, 75 'species of Mammals, 59 species of Birds, 19 species of Reptiles, 3 species of Amphibians and a large number of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera are listed as endangered. Status survey to variable extent has been carried out in respect of 28 species but a detailed consolidated account of only a few species Is available.
The status survey of the following species has been done and results published:
- Golden Langur
- Phayre’s Leaf Monkey
- Hispid Hare
- Desert Cat
- Chinkara
- Tibetan Wild Ass or Kiang
- Himalayan Marmot
- Himalayan Salamander
- Wroughton’s Free Tailed bat
- Western Tragopan
- Indian Edible-nest Swiftlet
Protected Areas:
The faunal diversity of the following Protected Areas has been documented:
National Parks:
Nanda Devi National Park, Uttarakhand
Corbet National Park, Uttarakhand
Rajaji National Park. Uttarakhand
Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Maharashtra
Eravikulum National Park, Kerala
Kudremukh National Park , Karnataka
Mount Harriet National Park , South Andaman
Desert National Park, Rajasthan
Pench National Park, Maharashtra
Gulf of Kutchh Marine National Park , Gujarat
Banerghata National Park, Karnataka
North, Middle and South Button National Parks, Andaman
Wildlife Sanctuaries:
Chandaka Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary , Orissa
Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, Delhi
Gobind Pashu Vihar Wildlife Sanctuary , Uttarakhand
Saipung Wildlife Sanctuary, Meghalaya
Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary, Bihar
Tiger Reserves:
Indravati Tiger Reserve, Chhattisgarh
Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar
Sundarbans, Palamau , Similipal and Manas TRs
MeIghat Tiger Reserve
Biosphere Reserves:
Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand
Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve, West Bengal
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & Kerala
Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, Tamil Nadu
ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA - ZSI Locations
1- North Eastern Regional Centre, Shillong ( Meghalaya)
2- Western Regional Centre, Pune ( Maharashtra)
3- Northern Regional Centre, Dehradun (Uttar Pradesh)
4- Southern Regional Centre, Chennai ( Tamil Nadu)
5- Central Zone Regional Centre, Jabalpur ( Madhya Pradesh)
6- Desert Regional Centre, Jodhpur ( Rajasthan)
7- Gangetic Plains Regional Centre, Patna (Bihar)
8- High Altitude Regional Centre, Solan ( Himachal Pradesh)
9- Marine Biology Regional Centre, Chennai ( Tamil Nadu)
10-Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, Port Blair ( Andaman & Nicobar Is.)
11-Freshwater Biology Regional Centre, Hyderabad ( Andhra Pradesh)
12-Sunderbans Regional Centre, Canning ( West Bengal)
13- Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, Gopalpur-on-Sea ( Orissa)
14- Western Ghat Regional Centre, Kozhikode ( Calicut) (Kerala)
15-Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre, Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh)
16-Marine Aquarium- cum-Regional Centre, Digha ( West Bengal)
National Afforestation Programme (NAP) Scheme
National Afforestation Programme (NAP) Scheme: At A Glance
Background: MoEF was operating four centrally sponsored afforestation schemes during the 9th Plan, i.e. Integrated Afforestation and Eco-development Project Scheme (IAEPS), Area Oriented Fuel wood and Fodder Project Scheme (AOFFPS), Conservation of Non-Timber Forest Produce including Medicinal Plants (NTFPS), and Association of ST and Rural Poor in Regeneration of Degraded Forests (ASTRPS). The Mid-Term Evaluation of the projects under these Schemes recommended a decentralised approach and speedy fund transfer mechanism. Taking cue from these recommendations, a Pilot Scheme, Samnavit Gram Vanikaran Samridhi Yojana (SGVSY) was launched in 2000-01 utilising the delivery mechanism of Forest Development Agency (FDA) and Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC). 47 Pilot projects launched during 9th Plan were highly successful in terms of achievement of the set objectives.
As per 10th Plan document of Planning Commission relating to the Forests and Environment sector (para 9.1.27), the National Afforestation Programme (NAP) Scheme was initiated by scaling-up the SGVSY project experience and converging all afforestation schemes of the 9th Plan period to avoid duplicity or redundancy, and at the same time keeping in focus the decentralization agenda of the government. NAP is being operated as a 100% Central Sector Scheme.
Objectives:
The overall objective of the scheme is to develop the forest resources with people’s participation, with focus on improvement in livelihoods of the forest-fringe communities, especially the poor.
NAP Scheme aims to support and accelerate the ongoing process of devolving forest protection, management and development functions to decentralized institutions of Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) at the village level, and Forest Development Agency (FDA) at the forest division level.
Components:
Financial support under NAP Scheme is available for:
Mobilisation of village JFMC, and Micro-planning in project villages
Afforestation – following components:
Aided Natural Regeneration
Artificial Regeneration
Bamboo plantation
Cane Plantation
Mixed Plantation of trees having MFP & medicinal value
Regeneration of perennial herbs & shrubs of medicine value
Pasture Development/ Silvipasture
Soil & Moisture Conservation
Entry Point Activity (for village development; average assistance Rs. 1.6 lakh per village)
Fencing, Monitoring & Evaluation, Training, Awareness raising, Overheads
- Institutional framework and its strengthening
The NAP is being implemented through a 2-tier structure of Forest Development Agency (FDA) at the forest division level and Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) at the village level. Thus, FDA is the confederation of JFMCs in that forest division. FDAs are registered under the Societies Registration Act. JFMCs are registered either with the Forest Department or under Statutory provisions. The district-level officers of relevant line departments of the State Govt. and Panchayat Raj Institution are members of FDA.
The recent experience with present institutional framework of FDA at the forest division level and JFMC at the village level is encouraging. All 28 States have adopted this institutional framework including in the Autonomous Hill Districts in Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram.
The institutions of FDAs and JFMCs are highly innovative resource transfer mechanisms whereby the Govt of India channelises funds directly to the grass root level implementing agency for the afforestation activities.
The structure of FDAs and JFMCs also caters to the gender concerns, whereby women membership to the extent of 50% has been made mandatory in these bodies. Members of Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes are the focus group in JFMCs.
Training of FDA and JFMC members is organized by State Forest Departments, as well as by the Regional Centres of National Afforestation and Eco-development Board (7 Regional Centres in the country).
To help and guide the FDAs and JFMCs, there is also a National-level Steering Committee of NAP and another at State level called State-level Coordination committee chaired respectively by Secretary (Environment and Forests), Government of India, and Chief Secretary of the State Government.
The following additional steps are being undertaken to further strengthen these institutions:-
A Training Needs Assessment exercise is being undertaken by the Regional Centres of National Afforestation and Eco-development Board to identify the needs and capacities of different categories of staff and members of JFMCs and FDAs for efficient implementation of NAP, and subsequently develop training modules for the same.
It is proposed to encourage linkage of JFMCs with other rural development programme. JFMCs may leverage outside funds to augment Entry Point Activity component of NAP for this purpose.
It is also proposed to formulate a financial management manual for FDAs and JFMCs so as to strengthen account keeping at the local level, and thus, empower communities for local-level decision making.
A national level JFM study has also been launched to assess strengths and weaknesses of implementation of JFM, and the progress of empowerment of the local communities in decision-making.
- Establish a system of e-governance in National Afforestation and Eco-development Board.
- Monitoring and evaluation mechanism
With a view to increasing the efficiency of NAP to meet the above goals, the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) exercise of the FDA projects is undertaken both by the State and Central Governments.
National Afforestation and Eco-development Board undertakes the first independent mid-term evaluation of the FDA projects within 24 months of sanction of the project with focus on people’s participation, functioning of JFMCs/ EDCs and the micro-planning exercise.
The final evaluation is required to be carried in the fourth year of the Project.
So far, National Afforestation and Eco-development Board has launched mid-term evaluation in respect of 250 FDA projects (including 47 Projects under SGVSY Scheme of the IX Plan).
In addition, the Forest Survey of India (FSI) has randomly selected 60 FDAs each in 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 for monitoring of area coverage and forest cover increase therein.
- Activities undertaken so far
715 FDAs have been operationalised so far at a cost of Rs. 1,514.79 Crores to treat a total area of 9.23 lakh ha. (as on 31.3.2006). Bamboo plantation, medicinal plants and Jatropha have been given adequate focus under NAP during the current plan period. State Governments have been advised to earmark 10% of the project area under NAP, as per feasibility, for Jatropha plantation. Rehabilitation of jhumlands (shifting cultivation) have been given specific focus under the programme, and so far 19 jhum projects have been sanctioned in NE States and in Orissa.
- Progress/ Achievement made during 2005-06
95 new FDA projects have also been sanctioned to cover an area of 55,232 hectare through 2,391 Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs). These include 12 new FDA projects in the North East to cover a total project area of 5380 ha. through 183 JFMCs. An amount of Rs. 248.58 Crores has been released to Forest Development Agencies during current financial year, out of which the release to North Eastern States is Rs. 45.80 Crores (up to 31.3.2006).
- Physical Outputs and Expected Outcomes
The goal of NAP is to promote improvement or increase in forest and tree cover. Two outcome parameters have, therefore, been identified with respect to NAP:
(i) 5 years after sanction, new plantations would, for each bio-geographic region, show the prescribed survival rates.
(ii) 6 to 12 years, after sanction, depending on the species, the new plantations would be revealed as either new area under Forest and Tree Cover or enrichment of forest cover in Satellite Imagery
- Comparison of progress as compared to previous years
Year-wise progress of National Afforestation Programme in the Tenth Five Year Plan is given in the table below.
Year | No. of new FDA projects operationalised | No. of JFMCs | Project Area | Release (Rs. Crores) |
2002-03 | 237 | 8209 | 405631 | 151.26 |
2003-04 | 231 | 7850 | 283272 | 207.98 |
2004-05 | 105 | 3474 | 107963 | 233.00 |
2005-06 (up to 31.3.2006) | 95 | 2,391 | 55,232 | 248.58 |
- State-wise Status
Progress of Forest Development Agency (FDA) projects from April, 2000 onwards (As on 31.3.2006)
Sl. No. | Name of State/Union Territory | No. of FDA Projects/Proposals sanctioned | Total project cost (in Rs. crores) | Area (in ha.) |
1 | Andhra Pradesh | 32 | 83.02 | 47400 |
2 | Chhattisgarh | 32 | 73.83 | 42514 |
3 | Gujarat | 21 | 60.87 | 30445 |
4 | Haryana | 18 | 53.44 | 22105 |
5 | Himachal Pradesh | 27 | 52.38 | 32378 |
6 | Jammu & Kashmir** | 31 | 74.61 | 47839 |
7 | Karnataka | 45 | 112.15 | 59180 |
8 | Madhya Pradesh | 49 | 112.48 | 76520 |
9 | Maharashtra | 45 | 98.62 | 65738 |
10 | Orissa | 40 | 69.65 | 55022 |
11 | Punjab | 9 | 17.65 | 8235 |
12 | Rajasthan | 33 | 39.22 | 28190 |
13 | Tamil Nadu | 32 | 93.60 | 52253 |
14 | Uttar Pradesh | 58 | 104.35 | 63004 |
15 | Uttaranchal | 37 | 54.17 | 39134 |
16 | Goa | 3 | 2.39 | 1250 |
17 | Jharkhand | 30 | 56.33 | 39850 |
18 | Bihar | 10 | 16.12 | 12315 |
19 | Kerala | 24 | 47.54 | 16250 |
20 | West Bengal | 17 | 39.07 | 22856 |
| Total (Other States) | 593 | 1261.49 | 762478 | |
21 | Arunachal Pradesh | 19 | 27.04 | 21416 |
22 | Assam | 29 | 36.56 | 26955 |
23 | Manipur | 13 | 26.58 | 18374 |
24 | Nagaland | 16 | 37.71 | 25528 |
25 | Sikkim | 7 | 27.72 | 15280 |
26 | Tripura | 12 | 25.57 | 19405 |
27 | Mizoram | 19 | 60.12 | 26770 |
28 | Meghalaya | 7 | 12.00 | 7400 |
| Total (NE States) | 122 | 253.30 | 161128 | |
| TOTAL | 715 | 1514.79 | 923606 |
- Budget Allocation of the Scheme and Progress of Expenditure
Revised Estimate for the scheme during 2005-06 was Rs. 248.58 crores, out of which Rs. 248.58 crores were released till 31.3.06
- Implementing organization along with details
The NAP Scheme is being implemented through two-tier decentralized mechanism of Forest Development Agency (FDA) at Forest Division Level and Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) at the village level.
- New initiatives under the scheme
A number of initiatives have been taken by the Ministry to expedite the implementation of the scheme as well improve the qualitative aspects of implementation. These include: (i) in-principle decision has been taken by the National-level Steering Committee for electronic transfer the funds from Government of India to the FDAs to cut-down the delays, (ii) efforts are being made to step-up monitoring and evaluation of the FDA projects by activation of State-level Coordination Committees for NAP, increased field visit by officers, and expeditious commissioning by the States of first independent concurrent evaluation of FDA projects, (iii) 10 programmes have been arranged through the Directorate of Forest Education for training and capacity building of front-line staff of FDAs and JFMCs, and (iv) 45 district-level inter-departmental linkage workshops have been approved in the work programme of the Regional Centres of NAEB for the year 2005-06 and 2006-07 for promoting the linkage of NAP with other developmental programmes for enhancing the sustainability of JFM, and (v) a new component has been added in NAP to universalize JFM in all forest-fringe villages in the country.
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