Training for forest land rights

Bhopal, Jan 10:  The state government has chalked out a programme of training related to Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition to Forest Rights) Act so that its provisions can be implemented swiftly. Under the programme, training to master trainers and nodal officers would be imparted regarding the provisions of Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition to Forest Rights) Act.

This training programme would be held from January 11 to 18 at Bhopal, Jabalpur, Indore and Gwalior. Master trainers would be imparted training at Academy of Administration Bhopal on January 11. Officers of Forest, Tribal Welfare, Panchayat and Revenue Departments from Bhopal, Hoshangabad and Sagar divisions would take part in this round of training from 10 am to 5 pm. Principal Secretary Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes Welfare OP Rawat has sent semi-government letters to all the divisional commissioners to organise the training programme with full seriousness. The letter says that the implementation of Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition to Forest Rights) Act is among the top priorities of Madhya Pradesh government.

The training programme for apprising master trainers and nodal officers about the provisions of the Act would be held on January 16 at the meeting hall of Veterinary College, Jabalpur. Officers from Jabalpur and Rewa divisions would take part in this training programme. On January 17 training programme for officers from Indore and Ujjain divisions would be held at Indore's Santosh Singh Auditorium (Behind GSITS). For the officers of Gwalior and Chambal divisions, training would be organised on January 18, 2008 at the State Health Management Institute, City Centre, Gwalior.

The master trainers trained in October 2007 would also attend these training sessions apart from nine other selected master trainers. District collectors concerned have been assigned the responsibility of sending master trainers and nodal officers for training. These master trainers would impart training to nodal officers in districts. Instructions have been issued to complete the training programme by January 24, 2008 so that the trained nodal officers are able to detail villagers about the provisions and ramifications of Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition to Forest Rights) Act at the village meetings scheduled to be held on January 26, 2008.