The Hindu Business Line : `Locals should be given more control'

More reforms
Mr Grant, who is one of the authors of the report, however felt that the Government should initiate reforms to ensure more secure tenure and management rights for forest dwellers.

Hyderabad , April 9

The World Bank has said that forests could give an income of $2 billion a year by 2020 as against $222 million in 2004.

In the report titled `India: Unlocking opportunities for forest-dependent people', the bank, however, pointed out that local communities should be given greater control over forest management in order to achieve the figure.

Talking on the salient features of the report at a workshop here on Saturday, Mr Grant Milne, Senior Natural Resource Management Specialist at the bank, said communities abetting forests could earn up to Rs 10 lakh every year.

Mr Grant, who is one of the authors of the report, however felt that the Government should initiate reforms to ensure more secure tenure and management rights for forest dwellers. Community-based forestry must be supported by more effective management, planning, mapping and research systems.

The report was based on findings in the studies conducted in Assam, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. An estimated 275 million people depended on forests for their livelihood.

The report also suggested that forestry plans must be better integrated into rural development.

Amendment

In order to ensure rights on forest produce to the local communities, the Forest Department has decided to bring in an amendment to the AP Forest Act. It had sent a proposal to the Centre for its nod after getting the go-ahead from the State Government.

Announcing this, Mr K.D.R. Jayakumar, Special Secretary to AP Government (Forests), said the law would remove uncertainty over the rights of Vana Samrakshana Samitis (VSS). There were 8,500 VSS in the State with 13.5 lakh people as members.

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