Sukhu launches Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana, Green Adoption Scheme
The 'Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana' aims to increase the green cover by planting fruit-bearing trees on barren and degraded forest areas.
It will also generate employment and income for local communities by ensuring the participation of mahila and yuvak mandals, besides the self-help groups, said Sukhu.
The CM also handed over certificates to two mahila mandals from Nadaun – Amlehad and Bhawdan – which will carry out the plantation activities on two hectares of forest land and ensure its maintenance for a period of five years.
In the initial phase of the 'Green Adoption Scheme', Ambuja group will undertake plantation work on 25 hectares, while the Adani Foundation and UltraTech would adopt 10 hectares each.
Sukhu handed over certificates to these organisations as a mark of official recognition. The scheme envisages encouraging private enterprises, corporate houses, and non-govt organisations as a part of their social responsibility to adopt barren forest land and undertake afforestation work.
During the event, the CM inspected the passing-out parade of the newly appointed Van Mitras and interacted with them. He said the forest department faced a shortage of field staff, which posed challenges to forest protection.
To address this, appointments of Van Mitras were made based on merit, with many young women taking the lead in securing these roles.
Sukhu said the state govt was focusing on women empowerment and the reservation for women in police recruitment had been increased to 30%. In Lahaul-Spiti, all key administrative officers, including the deputy commissioner, were women with decision-making authority.
The CM urged Van Mitras not to limit their role to forest protection alone but also to engage with rural communities to spread awareness about the importance of forests.
He emphasised the need to prevent illegal logging, remain vigilant against forest fires, and contribute actively to plantation drives and forest development initiatives by fostering public participation.
The chief minister also announced the opening of three new wellness centres under the municipal corporation of Hamirpur.
He also released a souvenir titled 'Samvaad' dedicated to Van Mitras and launched a book titled 'The Mountainous Wilderness of Spiti'. A new mobile application was also launched to facilitate attendance tracking of Van Mitras.
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