In a significant push toward ecological restoration and rural development, the State Government has launched the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana, a ₹100 crore community-driven afforestation program. The initiative aims to boost green cover while creating employment opportunities and strengthening the rural economy.
Unlike traditional plantation efforts, this scheme adopts a community-based model, actively involving Mahila Mandals, Yuvak Mandals, Self Help Groups, and other registered Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). These local groups will be responsible for both planting and maintaining forests on degraded or blank land, receiving financial and logistical support from the Forest Department.
Each participating CBO will manage up to 5 hectares of designated land, with funding of ₹1.20 lakh per hectare, including performance incentives linked to the survival rate of planted saplings. The Forest Department will provide high-quality planting materials and oversee regular monitoring and evaluation.
To ensure transparency, all projects will be geo-tagged and monitored through a dedicated digital portal, with direct electronic fund transfers to CBOs.
The scheme is designed to achieve multiple goals: enhancing carbon sequestration, promoting biodiversity, conserving water and soil, and generating sustainable livelihoods for thousands in rural areas. By empowering local communities and restoring degraded ecosystems, the program also fosters climate resilience and long-term environmental stewardship.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
