The State government has undertaken initiatives to decrease the gap between forests and people. Chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat said this while speaking at a function organised in Ramnagar, Nainital on the occasion of International Day of Forests on Sunday.
Rawat said that to ensure the direct participation of women in forest conservation and development while also increasing self-employment opportunities, they will be linked to self employment through skill development. The State government is doing commendable work in Corbett tiger reserve where for the first time in any tiger reserve in India, 50 women nature guides and 50 Gypsy women drivers will be involved in tourism activities. He said that 5,000 males and 5,000 females will be prepared as guides through skill development for national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the state. The CM also announced that 50 additional Gypsy jeeps will be registered in Corbett from the next tourist season. These jeeps will be operated by women. These women will be provided necessary financial assistance under the Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali scheme to procure the jeeps. An amphitheatre will be made and a light at sound show on Corbett and wild animals will be held at Amdanda. Rawat further said that the world class wildlife rescue centre under construction in the Dhela range will be opened to tourists for viewing tigers. The CM also announced that a bus station will be construction at Ramnagar for buses from Garhwal and Kumaon regions.
Speaking on the occasion, the Forest and Wildlife minister Harak Singh Rawat said that various decisions had been taken by the state government. He said that the experiment to train women as nature guides had resulted in the women earning about Rs 25,000 per month. He said that during its four years in office, the BJP state government had considerably developed wildlife tourism in Ramnagar which is benefitting the businessmen, youths and women.
The principal chief conservator of forests, Rajiv Bhartari, other departmental officials and public representatives were also present on the occasion.
Monday, 22 March 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
