Chief Minister Raghubar Das in a programme organised at Forest Training School, Mahilong, on Sunday said emphasis is on developing market for all forest goods so that income of forest dweller can be improved.
“The State Government is working with an aim to uplift the lives of deprived, through proper marketing and branding of tribal artifacts, 1/3rd of the population can be benefitted out of proper utilisation of forest products,” Das said while addressing the gathering at the training schools on conservation and protection of forests.
Also, the CM added that by 2019 every village will have roads for better connectivity. “The approach roads will directly benefit the farmers who normally have to face difficulties in taking their goods to the markets. The Government is making 8,000 km roads at places where connectivity is an issue.
Attempts are being made to provide electricity to each household,” he said.
Blessed with ample green covers, Das on the occasion said that through minor initiatives vulnerable varieties of forests goods can be protected from getting extinct. “In comparison to several States, we have several types of plants that can be used for several purposes. Also, village committees have proved that, if required, all the vulnerable produced can be protected,” the CM said.
In an attempt to ensure the participation of women in conservation of forest goods, the CM emphasized on including womenfolk in the village forest management and conservation committees. Also, the CM asked the officials of forest department present on the occasion to take the help of public to implement the schemes more smoothly.
Along with Chief Secretary Rajbala Verma, Development Commissioner Amit Khare, Principal Secretary to CM Sunil Barnwal and officials of Forest Department, the CM visited the stalls decked up inside the training school and also felicitated those who had done much to conserve the forest essentials.