Gadchiroli Dec. 2 (District Correspondent) The process of forest compartments allotment to the Tribal Forest Cooperative Societies for the current year was completed by the forest department recently that has enabled the societies to start their work soon and get financial benefit to their members.
In the year 1947, the then Chief Minister of Bombay State Balasaheb Kher started the forest workers cooperative movement with an objective to stop the oppression and exploitation of the tribal people by the monopolist and to achieve their overall development.
At present, as many as 26 forest cooperative societies are functioning in Gadchiroli district. These societies are included in the work plan of the Forest Department under which forest compartments are allotted to the societies for providing employment opportunities to their members and raising the standard of living of the tribals people.
An online meeting of the forest department officials regarding allotment of forest coups outside the scope of the Forest Workers Co-operative Societies was held recently.
The meeting was chaired by Mr. P. Kalyan Kumar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Production and Management). Dr. Kishore Mankar, Conservator of Forests, Gadchiroli, Umesh Sharma, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Resource Utilization) Nagpur, Milesh Dutt Sharma, Deputy Conservator of Forest Gadchiroli, Rahulsingh Tolia, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Alapalli, Ms. Punam Pate, Deputy Conservator of Forest, Sironcha, P. K. Zade, Secretary, Forest Workers Co-operative Societies were present.
As per sanctioned work plan in Gadchiroli, Alapalli and Sironcha forest divisions, a total of 47 compartments suitable for felling was allotted. Out of this 15513.772 cubic meters of timber and 22491.00 beats of fire wood are expected to be procured. Also, a revenue of 38.77 crores is expected from this work.
The employment to 4900 members of 26 Foerst Workers’ Cooperatives Societies will be available with this work. Also, the other related works like cutting of Forest Products, transportation of the wood will also be available to thousands of other workers in various jobs such as car drivers, watchmen, janitors at coupe depots. Opportunity of employment will be available due to early completion of coup allotment process.
The societies should take over the allotted coups soon and complete the work as soon as possible, instructed Dr. Mankar while speaking in the meeting.
Forest workers cooperatives get 20 percent of the net revenue after deducting the expenses from the revenue received. Out of that, 10 percent share is allocated to the members of the societies for welfare work. Therefore, this work will help in raising the standard of living of the members, it was hoped.
Since the process of allotment of coups has been completed earlier this year compared to every year, the employees of the forest Societies can complete the work in winter. There will be no need to work in summer. The efficiency of the members of the societies will increase and their health will also be good, it was hoped.
The office bearers and employees of Forest Cooperative Societies expressed their gratitude to the forest department for the early completion of the allotment process.
