Unique Features of JFM Orders in States of India

In the Government Resolutions issued to JFM by various states apart from the regular clauses/guidelines, a few orders have incorporated some unique clauses. These not only reflect the intention and seriousness of the particular State but also facilitates the implementation of the programme in a better manner.

Karnataka Orders

1. In the JFM order of Karnataka, Joint Forest Planning and Management (JFPM) is also applicable.

• to non-forest government wastelands under the control of the Revenue Department like C and D class lands and transferred for the purpose of JFPM to Forest Department.
• To roadside and canal sides and foreshore of tank.

1. The Joint Forest Management plan (i.e. the proposal for the planning, management, development, protection etc. of the degraded area) will be effective for a period of 10 years. If the plan is accepted, it shall replace the existing management / Working plans.

Kerala Orders

VSS operation fund has been constituted, where the cost of investment in planting, soil and water conservation measures and contribution of protection of forest zone from Kerala FD will be deposited. The selection of Site will be on a watershed basis.

Uttar Pradesh Rules

The order explicitly mentions that a village committee shall be deemed to be a forest officer.

Provision for constitution of range committee and divisional committee.

Orissa Orders

All the village woodlots and social forestry block protection raised under the SIDA assisted social forestry project between 1984-1994 after being notified as village forests, will also come under the purview of JFM scheme.

Gujarat Orders

1. Community can take up afforestation on wastelands.
2. The voluntary organisation with the village community can be involved in the disposal of final produce.
3. The village community will do the planning regarding the use of benefits to the committee. The benefits are proportional to the period of membership.
4. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests has issued the circular for the inclusion of forest lands in the micro-watershed under the Scheme of Watershed Development (Refer Annexure II).

Haryana Orders

Resources like water, grass for fodder, bhabbar for rope making/sale, bamboo for basket making, timber, Katha, firewood, fruit and other forest produce have been recognised as catalysts for lying the villages interest with improved management. Accordingly the minimum number of 10-15 households with common rights or interests in resource can form HRMS.

Andhra Pradesh Orders

1. It provides for 100 % share to VSS members in respect of all forest produce.

2. In case of Bamboo and Timber, 50% of the revenue obtained from the VSS area would be utilised for implementation of microplan - this provision ensures sustainable management of forests irrespective of the fund availability from Government in future.

3. The VSS members would also be getting 50% of the NET REVENUE realised from sale of Beedi Leaf collected from the VSS area. ( for the 1999 BL season about 1600 VSS would be getting Rs.7 Crores from this source, which is an annual affair in Telangana region) This amount would be used for implementing the microplan

4. The VSS members also get 25% of the Compounding Fees collected from forest offenders in repsect of forest offences booked with their assistance.

5. Atleast 50% of the General Body of VSS shall comprise of Women with one-third reservation for women being made in the Managing Committee which is the decision making body.

6. The implemntation of the JFM programme would be done in accordance with a site specific local microplan prepared. Further all the funds needed would be provided ONLY THROUGH A JOINT ACCOUNT SYSTEM - the joint account being in the name of the chairperson of the VSS and the Section Officer concerned, who is the Secretary of the VSS.

Madhya Pradesh Orders

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests has issued the circular for inclusion of forest lands under "Rajiv Gandhi Catchment Area Development Programme" (See Annexure II). In Madhya Pradesh, the existing working plan will be replaced by the micro management plan. This micro-management plan will be for a duration of ten years.

Maharashtra Orders

Presently NGOs could be included in the joint forest management only as catalyst and they were not allowed to actually implement Watershed Development Programmes in forest areas. Now, Government of Maharastra has sanctioned implementation of Indo-German Watershed Development Programme (being implemented through NGOs) in forest areas through the Forest Protection Committees (FPC) (See Annexure II).

Information on this page is part of the Forest Information System Project of IIFM.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Chinmaya S. Rathore
Project Team : Dr. S.K.S. Rathore, Seema Jain