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Forests • Local Governance • Odisha • Tribal Empowerment • Sustainable Development

Odisha Launches Grassroots Forest Management Initiative Empowering 100 Villages

In a major stride toward community-led forest conservation, the Odisha government has initiated a pioneering programme to empower gram sabhas (village councils) with direct control over forest management funds. Under the Forest Rights Act, 100 villages will receive direct financial support, marking a new era in decentralised forest governance.

🏞️ Community Forest Resource Plans Approved

The Project Appraisal Committee (PAC) has greenlit Community Forest Resource (CFR) plans for 100 villages as part of a pilot phase.

• ₹16 crore allocated
• Plans in place to expand to 400 villages
• Aim: Strengthen local control over forest conservation and development

💰 Direct Funding into Gram Sabha Accounts

Each participating village will receive ₹15 lakh annually, deposited directly into their gram sabha’s bank account.
Additionally, ₹1 lakh per village will go to technical agencies for developing and supporting forest management plans.

This shift promotes:

• Local accountability
• Self-governance
• Need-based conservation efforts

🌳 Role of Gram Sabhas in the New Framework

• Gram sabhas will now lead afforestation and forest protection activities.
• This marks a departure from Forest Department and Vana Surakhya Samiti (VSS) control.
• Localised planning is expected to align conservation with community needs and indigenous knowledge.

📍 Districts Participating in the Pilot

The initiative spans 10 districts rich in biodiversity:
Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Dhenkanal, and Bargarh.

🧾 About the Forest Rights Act, 2006

The Forest Rights Act recognises the historical rights of Scheduled Tribes and forest dwellers:

• Empowers communities to protect, regenerate, and manage forest ecosystems
• Grants access to minor forest produce, grazing lands, and traditional water bodies
• Upholds both individual and community rights

🌿 Community Forest Resource (CFR) Rights Explained

CFR rights enable communities to:

• Conserve forests sustainably
• Exercise rights over traditional forest resources
• Use forests without degrading them

This community stewardship is essential for balancing ecological health with livelihood security.

⚖️ Challenges in Implementation

Despite strong legal backing, issues persist:

• Delays in title recognition
• Complex eligibility criteria
• Conflicts with industrial and conservation policies

🇮🇳 Where Odisha Stands Nationally

As of 2024, CFR rights granted:

• Maharashtra: 8,661 villages
• Chhattisgarh: 4,328 villages
• Odisha: 3,659 villages (Ranks 3rd)

Odisha’s latest move signals a renewed push to strengthen forest rights at the grassroots, setting an example for other states to follow.