STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ashwani Kumar Choubey, who is on a two day tour to the Union Territory, on Monday reviewed the working of J&K Forest Department in a high level meeting held here.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF), Roshan Jaggi and other senior officers participated in the meeting.
Union Minister emphasized to promote the concept of Nagar Vans in Jammu and Kashmir aimed to enhance the tree cover outside forests besides extension of biodiversity and ecological benefits to urban and pre-urban areas. He appreciated the involvement of PRI representatives, local people, NGOs, school children, NCC and NSS cadets, Paryavaran/Van Mitras, eco guides, paramilitary forces and other stakeholders around all the Gram Panchayats and villages besides Urban Local Bodies in afforestation and other activities.
During the meeting, different issues concerning the projects supported by Central Ministry (MoEFCC) were brought to the notice of the Union Minister by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. These included release of funds under Nagar van scheme, Green India Mission and Forest fire Protection and Management scheme.
The PCCF (HoFF) also apprised the Union MoS of the progress, made so far, to achieve the targets under different deliverables assigned by the government especially under the flagship programs like Green J&K Drive, Har Gaon Hariyali, Ped Lagayen Beti Ke Naam, One Village One Beat Guard Program, Van Se Jal, Jal Se Jeevan, Demarcation and Strengthening of Forest Boundaries in J&K.
It was informed that, presently, a number of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs) are operational in J&K with 100 per cent support from Centre government like Green India Mission (GIM), which is one of the eight Missions outlined under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) with an aim of protecting, restoring and enhancing India’s diminishing forest cover and responding to climate change by a combination of adaptation and mitigation measures.
Besides, a total of 4775 hectare of identified landscape has been covered and planted with 16.94 lakh tree saplings at a cost of Rs 29.61 crore, so far. It was further informed that, J&K Forest Department has decided to develop at least one Nagar Van /Nagar Vatika in each ULB of the UT under the Nagar Van Yojna J&K. Besides, there are 80 ULBs which include 02 Municipal Corporations, out of these, 43 ULBs have been covered under the NVY scheme and the work on remaining 37 is under progress. During the current financial year, Rs 98.3 lakh have also been released to combat forest fires under ‘Forest Fire Prevention and Management” scheme.
Later, the Union MoS also inspected one of the Nagar Vans in Roop Nagar area of Jammu City and planted a sapling there.
Pertinently, the Forest department has been given the ever highest target of planting 175 lakh plants during 2023-24 both on forest and non-forest land with the active involvement of local people and PRI representatives.
Meanwhile “Rozgar Mela” under the Mission Recruitment Program of Govt. of India was organized on Monday at Frontier Headquarters, BSF Jammu, to distribute appointment letters to the selected candidates of BSF, CRPF CISF, Defence, Postal, CBDT and Higher education department.
Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change graced the occasion as the chief guest.
The Rozgar Mela scheme is part of the Government’s efforts to abate unemployment in the country. The mission mode recruitment drive aims to fill up more than 10 lakh jobs in the Government Sector.
At the commencement of the event, Prime Minister of India virtually launched the Rozgar Mela and addressed all the participants.
Inspector General D K Boora welcomed Chief Guest of the event, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, in BSF HQ Jammu.
Union Minister of State (MoS) handed over appointment letters to the selected candidates.
Senior officers from various government departments and CAPFs graced the occasion along with selected candidates and their family members. Parents of selected candidates praised the government’s efforts in mitigating unemployment in general.
They appreciated the fact that the recruitments are being carried out across Central Government Departments and State Governments/UTs supporting this initiative.
The new recruits will be joining various Ministries/Departments such as the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Higher Education, Department of Atomic Energy, Ministry of Defence, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Railways, as well as Central Armed Forces such as CRPF, BSF, SSB, Assam Rifles, CISF, ITBP in various positions.
Today, at 47 locations across the country, more than 1 lakh appointment letters are being handed over to new appointees.
It is worth mentioning that MHA has filled up various posts in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). This will significantly enhance the operational efficiency of our security forces and enable them to better manage a wide range of security duties across the entire country.
The newly inducted appointees are also getting an opportunity to train themselves through ‘Karmayogi Prarambh’, an online module on iGOT Karmayogi portal where more than 880 e-learning courses have been made available for ‘anywhere any device’ learning format.