https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

This MP Village Once Had All Encroacher Families

38 families in MP’s Jamundli village were illegally encroaching on the forest lands 2018-batch IFS officer Vejayanantham TR took a different approach to address the issue To know how he resolved the issue, read the article…
Indian Masterminds Stories

Deep in the South Betul Forest Division, near the Maharashtra border, lies Jamundli village. In the remote village, where people mainly relied on subsistence agriculture to survive, there was a persistent problem – 38 families were illegally taking over forest land. The total encroached area was 130 hectare.

THE ENCROACHERS

Encroaching was very common in the region. Some misinterpreted the 2005 Forest Rights Act, intended to empower local communities, as a license to encroach. In Jamundli, this led to a strained relationship between the forest department and the villagers.

Speaking with Indian Masterminds, IFS officer Vejayanantham TR, the DFO of South Betul Forest Division in Madhya Pradesh, shares his experiences in successfully removing encroachers from the land and the challenges he encountered.

This MP Village Once Had All Encroacher Families
This MP Village Once Had All Encroacher Families

He encountered a wave of resentment upon arriving in April 2022. “People complained they barely earned 20-25,000 rupees a year and had no other options,” Mr. Vejayanantham recalls. Even the encroached land wasn’t a sustainable solution, offering meager yields despite their hard work. The animosity between the villagers and forest staff was visible.

KEY CHALLENGE

The key challenge? The entire village was involved. “Evicting everyone wasn’t a viable solution, and any recovered land could be re-encroached upon,” the officer said. Mr. Vejayanantham realized a different approach was needed – one that prioritized both forest protection and the villagers’ well-being.

The first step was fostering trust. The department embarked on a massive plantation drive, restoring over 270 hectares of degraded forest near the encroached area. This created local employment opportunities. Villagers, especially those who previously migrated for work, were now earning a steady income as forest watchers, right outside their doorsteps. This initiative not only stopped migration but also ensured a workforce for the next decade.

“In a way, it has halted the migration for the past 2 years and will continue to do so for at least another couple of years, until there is intense work on the plantation,” he added.

Bicycles provided to differently-abled residents
Bicycles provided to differently-abled residents

LONG-TERM PLAN

Mr. Vejayanantham recognized the need for a long-term plan that addressed various aspects of the community’s life.  He identified two basic needs – clean drinking water and accessible cattle watering holes. The installation of new water tanks has alleviated the long treks undertaken by women for water and reduced the need for villagers to graze their cattle deep inside the forest.

“To attract the youngsters, we installed smart classes in the schools, offering the encroachers’ children a brighter future,” the officer shared. These initiatives, along with skill development programs in tailoring, electrician work, and driving, began to build goodwill. Villagers, particularly women, started earning supplementary income of 2-3,000 rupees through tailoring.

Smart classes installed in schools
Smart classes installed in schools

A recent installation of solar lights in the village further solidified the positive relationship. Youngsters from encroaching families were offered jobs with the help of the department, “15-20 people got placed in different companies.” Even bicycles were provided to differently-abled residents upon request. These acts spread over 1.5 years, chipped away at the resistance.

This MP Village Once Had All Encroacher Families
This MP Village Once Had All Encroacher Families

IMPRESSIVE RESULT

The results were impressive. 35 families voluntarily gave up their encroached land and even participated in restoring it through plantation work. Only three families remained reluctant, eventually removed through a joint force of forest officials, police, and revenue authorities.

By addressing livelihood concerns, fostering trust, and investing in the community’s future, IFS officer Vejayanantham TR not only reclaimed the forest land but also empowered the people of Jamundli village.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
shastri-bhawan
CSS Forum Backs Officer Deepak Khoda After Suicide Attempt Over Alleged Workplace Harassment by IAS; Demands High-Level Probe in Letter to Minister
Gandhinagar: Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R
14 Million Seedlings and Counting: Gujarat’s Centres of Excellence Drive Horticulture Innovation with Global Backing
Siyan Gudis old age homes Chhattisgarh
CM Sai Announces 'Siyan Gudis' for Elderly in 4 Chhattisgarh Cities, Launches Welfare Measures on International Day of Older Persons
Sardar Patel 150th birth anniversary celebrations
Gujarat CM Reviews National Unity Day Arrangements Ahead of Sardar Patel’s 150th Birth Anniversary at Sardar Sarovar Dam
Pushkar Singh Dhami CM
Uttarakhand CM Flags Off Free Ambulance for Senior Citizens on International Day of Older Persons
KVS
Cabinet Approves 57 New Kendriya Vidyalayas Across India with ₹5862 Cr Outlay, 4600+ Jobs to Be Created
bureaucracy news
Ambica Anand Appointed Director in Ministry of Steel, Neeraj Surendran Named Deputy Secretary in MSDE
PiyushGoyal-resized
India-EFTA Free Trade Agreement (TEPA) Comes Into Force, Boosting Trade and Investment Opportunities
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
shastri-bhawan
CSS Forum Backs Officer Deepak Khoda After Suicide Attempt Over Alleged Workplace Harassment by IAS; Demands High-Level Probe in Letter to Minister
Gandhinagar: Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R
14 Million Seedlings and Counting: Gujarat’s Centres of Excellence Drive Horticulture Innovation with Global Backing
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT