It is necessary to be free from colonial thinking in forest management: Chief Minister Dr. Yadav

Bhopal: Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has said that forest is a subject related to livelihood. There is immense forest wealth available in tribal areas. In its management, it has to be kept in mind that the interests of the tribal class should not be affected by development. Indian way of life has been based on forests. There is a need to get rid of colonial thinking in the management of forests. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has paved the way to move forward by establishing harmony between progress and nature by linking development and nature with heritage. PESA Act is an important step in this direction. He said that the joy of life lies in totality, and many problems get solved automatically by living a nature-based life. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav was addressing the inaugural session of the National Workshop on Forest Restoration, Climate Change and Community Based Livelihood in Tribal Areas at the Academy of Administration. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav and Union Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Shri Bhupendra Yadav inaugurated the workshop by lighting the lamp and paying floral tribute to the picture of Lord Birsa Munda and braveheart Rani Durgavati. State Women and Child Development Minister Ms Nirmala Bhuria, Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Mr Durgadas Uikey were also present.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav congratulated the Forest Department for improving the condition of forests in the state and innovation in forest management. He said that the eco-system is improving due to the conservation of wildlife. Cheetahs have been restored on the initiative of Prime Minister Shri Modi. Expressing the need to develop a system for the conservation of species of reptiles including King Cobra, he said that this will reduce the incidents of snakebite. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that proper arrangements will be made for the conservation of places of worship and faith of the tribal community present in the forest area. If required, cooperation will also be obtained from the central government.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that Madhya Pradesh is very rich in terms of forests. Although there is no glacier in the state, but the water coming out of forests naturally forms the major rivers originating from the state. Son, Ken, Betwa, Narmada rivers originating from Madhya Pradesh are providing life through water to many states of the country. This water coming out of the forests of the state has an important contribution in the progress of Bihar, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. From this point of view, the forests of Madhya Pradesh are the forests of the entire country. Conservation and development of forests of Madhya Pradesh is important for the conservation of these rivers and maintaining their clean and uninterrupted flow.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that work is being done for the conservation of Narmada river through Narmada Samgra. Work will be done on other rivers as well. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav thanked Prime Minister Shri Modi for the Ken-Betwa river linking project and Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) link project. He said that these projects will ensure availability of drinking water and irrigation facilities in a large area of ​​the state.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav stressed the need to work on the conservation of aquatic life. He said that Madhya Pradesh has made a special identity in the conservation of wild animals. He stressed the need to organize an international seminar focused on migratory birds. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav, wishing success to the workshop organized to make livelihood simple and accessible along with forest conservation, said that this workshop will prove useful in the conservation of forest and environment along with the socio-economic progress of tribal areas.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Yadav said that we need to prepare community based schemes for the conservation of nature. Union Minister Shri Yadav said that Prime Minister Shri Modi is constantly motivating the public to focus on environment friendly life for the conservation of nature. Every person living on the earth has to save energy, food and water. Solid waste and e-waste management are big challenges in environmental conservation. It is necessary to reduce the use of plastic and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Union Minister Shri Yadav said that in this stream of development, conservation of forests and nature will have to be taken along. The Central Government has worked to bring about a change in the lives of people living in forests through capacity building. There is a need for holistic thinking for the development and conservation of forests and the people living here. Work is being done for environmental conservation under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Modi. Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam has become our biggest campaign. Solar Energy Alliance has been formed to promote renewable energy. An alliance has also been established to deal with natural disasters. International Biofuel Alliance has been formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Modi. India is today leading the Global South among the developing countries of the world. We have to be vocal for local, along with that India also has to become a global leader in the conservation of tribal class and environment.

Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey said that the relationship between tribal society and forests is inseparable. Due to the shelter of mixed forests, the tribal community is being forced to migrate from forest areas. As a result of this, there is a need for discussions on forest management and livelihood resources of the tribal community. In India, the writing of Vedas, Puranas etc. was done in the forest culture. Indian knowledge tradition and forest and tribal society are dependent on each other. It is necessary to formulate future policies by accepting their importance in totality.

The keynote speaker, philosopher and thinker Shri Girish Kuber said that the mutual interests of forest and forest dwellers are intertwined. The issue of livelihood of tribal society is very sensitive in the current scenario. It is necessary to give importance to Indian knowledge tradition, oral sources and knowledge passed on from generation to generation. In line with the priority being given to Jai Anusandhan by Prime Minister Shri Modi, special initiatives should be taken to study the knowledge of tribal communities about forests. He also said that it is necessary to give importance to the traditional process of equal distribution of forest resources, to recognize natural village as Gram Sabha, and to recognize the forest rights of tribal community.

Tribal Affairs Minister Dr. Kunwar Vijay Shah said that discussions on community based forest restoration and climate friendly livelihood in tribal areas are the dire needs of the day. This will guarantee secure livelihood in tribal areas in future. He said that the conclusions drawn from the experiences and views of subject experts from across the country will pave the way for a secure future for the residents of tribal areas.

Principal Secretary Tribal Affairs, Shri Gulshan Bamra informed that in the workshop, there will be detailed discussion on issues like current legal arrangements for forest conservation, their limitations and solutions, Biodiversity Amendment Act-2023, Community Forest Rights, documentation of traditional knowledge and forest restoration.