Dehradun: Special emphasis will be laid on enhancing local community livelihoods and creating new employment opportunities under the Green India Mission in Uttarakhand. Principal Secretary of Forests and Environment, R.K. Sudhanshu, directed that livelihood-related activities be prioritized in the action plan up to 2031. He also asked officials to plant sea-buckthorn in Van Panchayats and hold a meeting soon regarding livelihood promotion topics.
On Wednesday, the 7th state-level executive committee meeting of the State Forest Development Agency was held at the Secretariat under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu. The perspective plan of the Green India Mission for the next five years was reviewed during the meeting. The Principal Secretary stated that the state government aims to maximize employment opportunities in the region. To achieve this, instructions were issued to prepare and present a detailed action plan for livelihood promotion activities under the mission.
It was informed at the meeting that the Green India Mission, Nagar Van Yojana, and School Nursery Scheme are currently being run through the State Forest Development Agency. The agency has been renewed up to the year 2031. Work is to be executed across three sub-missions under the project. A financial requirement of ₹559.16 crore has been assessed for the implementation of the current perspective plan.
Action Plan Worth ₹31.45 Crore Sent to the Centre
Compliance with instructions issued in the previous executive committee meeting was also reviewed. Officials reported that Forest Development Agency meetings are being conducted across all districts. Suggestions from nodal officers regarding the success of plantation drives under the Green India Mission and other schemes have been sent to all Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs).
Officials shared that, excluding new works under the Green India Mission, annual operational plans totaling ₹31.45 crore were submitted to the Central Government in July 2025 and May 2026. Once funds are approved and released, large-scale work will be undertaken for local community livelihood development.
The meeting was attended by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Kapil Lal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Neena Grewal, Additional Principal Chief Conservator Vivek Pandey, Additional Principal Chief Conservator and Nodal Officer (Forest Conservation) Meenakshi Joshi, Additional Secretaries Navneet Pandey, Vikram Singh Yadav, and other concerned officials. Some officials also joined the meeting virtually.
