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Advisor, Ama Jangala Yojana visits Angul Forest Division

Shri Narayan Pattanaik, Advisor, Ama Jangala Yojana had visited different Project VSSs covered under Angul Forest Division from 24^th to 25^th of January, 2023 to review the interventions under Ama Jangala Yojana and to offer advice to bridge the gaps, if any, in outreach of the Govt. Welfare Schemes and Programmes at the grassroots.

During his tour, he visited Tentuli VSS & Jerang Dehury Sahi Budhipahada VSS under Jarapada Forset Range and Saruali VSS under Angul Forest Range. Being accompanied by Mr. Vivek Kumar, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer, local PRI representatives and Project personnel, he interacted with the VSS and SHG members and visited the ANR sites to get appraised about the progress of activities under Ama Jangala Yojana. In addition to this, he also visited the VSS Building-cum-IGA Facilitation Centre to observe its utility and the present situation. About 200 numbers of VSS and SHG members along with Shri Nagarjuna Sahoo, President of the VSS, Shri Rajkishore Behera, Village Animator, Shri Bijay Kumar Nayak, Forester-cum-Member Secretary of the VSS, Mr. Madhab Nayak, Range Officer, Jarapada Range, Ms Sukanti Dei, Range Officer of Angul Forest Range and local PRI representatives were present in the interactive sessions. The VSS members explained the methods and modalities for implementation of different activities under Ama Jangala Yojana which include Survey and Demarcation, Pillar Postings, Soil and Moisture Conservation (SMC) measures, cleaning and fire prevention activities. The members also shared their experiences how they have been protecting the assigned forest area from theft and fire incidences in a group approach by Thengapali & Flag posting methods. The Advisor, AJY was highly impressed with the remarkable performance in livelihood promotion initiatives by AJY team in Angul Forest Division.

The Advisor also made a transect walk through the assigned forest area under Tentuli and Budhipahada VSSs and offered necessary advice to the VSS members as well as the project personnel. The records maintained by the VSS such as Micro-plan booklet, VSS Resolution Register, VSS Meeting Register, Work Attendance Register were also verified.

Key Observations:

The interventions by Ama Jangala Yojana have been effective in raising the awareness level of the forest fringe dwelling communities. The initiatives taken up through convergence of Schemes of Line Departments are innovative steps under AJY. “The Panchayati Raj Institutions and Other Line Departments need to provision more resources for overall development of the villages”- He concluded.