Centre announces Rs.20 cr under CAMPA

September 21, 2021 46 Views No Comment

Correspondent KOHIMA, SEP 21 (NPN): Union minister of state for consumer affairs, food & public distribution and environment, forest & climate change Ashwini Kumar Choubey announced that Centre would allocate Rs. 20 crore to Nagaland as a rehabilitation package for jhum cultivators under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) fund.

It was also learnt that five districts from eastern Nagaland and one from Wokha, have been identified under the project.

Addressing media at Hotel Vivor here on Monday, he said the fund would be provided to help deserving farmers earn an alternative livelihood.

He further announced that 36 schools in the State would also receive Rs 50,000 from the Centre to set up plant nurseries with the objective of promoting environment.

He also mentioned that Kohima and Dimapur have been selected under Nagar Van Scheme, which envisaged people’s participation and collaboration with the forest department, municipal bodies, NGOs and corporates for promotion and development of cleaner and greener environment.

Asserting that India would not move forward unless the North Eastern States developed, Choubey said Centre was concerned about the region’s progress in all sectors as it was an important part of India.

Underlining the need to develop the Northeast on a priority, he referred to the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in developing the North Eastern region, claiming that several major initiatives had been taken in this regard.

He said the department was looking at the possibility of shifting people from jhum cultivation to settled land use, and convert jhum fields to terrace cultivation, adding that project would aim at income generation as per the wish of the community.

Mentioning that a micro plan would be prepared under the project, the official said the villagers would be able to carry out income-generating activities and a market chain would be created for value addition.

Meanwhile, during his visit to Piphema to oversee a Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA) project, Choubey also handed over Rs 10,000 to the village council for maintaining forest.

He said he was impressed to see the enthusiasm and initiative of the community in plantation and nurseries at Piphema. (See more on p-3)

As announced by the Prime Minister to provide fortified rice to completely remove malnutrition among children and pregnant women, the Union minister said ration card holders and poor people across the country would receive fortified rice by 2024 through Food Corporation of India and food & civil supplies.

He also said that the Centre was willing to help the state to improve its forest area and assured to enhance the status of the forest personnel and add more facilities for the departments.

Tribal affairs &higher education minister Temjen Imna Along and other senior state government officials accompanied the Union minister.

Later, the minister also met chief minister Neiphiu Rio at his official residence.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/centre-announces-rs-20-cr-under-campa/240756.html