ANNEXURE - H

Guidelines for Entry Point Activities for JFM

Whereas involvement of local communities in forestry programmes is a desirable objective, it is often difficult to achieve because of the following reasons:-

(a) Forest activities have long gestation periods and are, therefore, accorded low priority by the local community;

(b) Forestry programmes are considered to be ‘government’ programmes; where implementation and protection is seen as the responsibility of the forest department;

(c) Most of the forestry/plantation programmes entail ‘closure’ of the area, which increases hardship to the local people;

(d) Co-operation of almost all stakeholders is necessary for successful protection of plantations.

2. Entry point and other relevant promotional activities may help overcome these hurdles. The objectives of these activities should be:

(a) To mobilise all stakeholders/the community;

(b) To compensate the community for the loss due to ‘closure' (in particular those enjoying traditional rights to forest produce).

3 The community should collectively identify entry point activities. Entry Point Activities should include creation of community assets to be maintained by them, for example:

- Water harvesting structures like check dams for irrigation, drinking water requirements and amelioration of soil moisture regime;

- Digging of wells for supply of drinking water;

- Creation of roads and culverts;

- Construction of sheds for school and community use assets;

- Installation of energy saving and energy alternative devices;

- Rural electrification through the use of solar power;

4. The above is an illustrative list, and other activities as may be necessary as per the local conditions and requirements may also be taken up commensurate with the approved microplan.

3. The main objective of the entry point and other promotional activities is to elicit the willing participation of the communities in JFM. The former would be useful in ‘breaking the ice’ and to win the trust and confidence of the people. They should normally cease or taper off with formation of the Village Development Fund (VDF), since the Fund provides a more formal, larger and endurable financial basis for initiating and maintaining developmental activities as may be decided by the community as a whole.

4. Keeping in view the crucial motivational role of entry point activities in the afforestation projects, it is proposed to allow upto Rs. 4000/- per ha. for these purposes in the projects to be sanctioned to FDAs/JFMCs during the Tenth Plan as against 25% of the plantation cost permitted in the Ninth Plan.