Three lakh families in the State, in which a girl child was born in the last one year, will be gifted 10 saplings each to ensure monetary returns to the families and help the children. The saplings will be of lucrative species, such as teak, bamboo and fruit trees.
The initiative is part of Kanya Van Samruddhi Yojana, a government programme to celebrate the birth of girl children in agricultural families in rural areas.
Vikas Kharge, principal secretary, State Forest Department, said, “The saplings can be planted in front of their houses or in their farms. The idea is to celebrate the birth of a girl child and to ensure that green cover increases.”
Forest and Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar had announced the scheme in June, and the Cabinet had cleared it soon after.
The department has collected data from grampanchayats about families that had a girl child last year. The families will also get training in horticulture. The 30 lakh saplings that will be distributed are part of the 33 crore saplings that the government plans to plant in the State in 2019.
This year, the Forest Department had set a target to plant 13 crore saplings. As per the department, the consistent plantation drives have started showing positive results in the form of increase in tree cover. As per the India State of Forest Report, 2017, forest cover in the State has increased by 82 sq.km. as compared to the last report of 2015.
While 20% of the State’s area is under forest, the figure still falls short of the target set by the national forest policy, which requires States to have 33% area under forest or tree cover. “Schemes like Kanya Van Samruddhi Yojana will also help us to achieve this target,” an official said.