AJY is proposed to be implemented in 30 Territorial & Wildlife Divisions covering 7,000 VSSs/ EDCs, which have not been covered under OFSDP Phase-I or are not proposed to be included in OFSDP Phase - II . The scheme envisages further strengthening of the participatory forest management in the state by way of bringing the informal village level institutions/ bodies involved in the protection and management of forest resources under the fold of AJY in addition to creation of new VSSs.
Based on the learning from the success of the Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project, under which adequate support was provided to the VSSs/ EDCs for institutional development and prmoting income generation activities