To pave the way for forest conservation and reduce fuel pollution, the forest department of Nashik in Maharashtra had started providing LPG connection to the tribal people living in the forests to reduce their dependence on forests for fuelwood. This initiative has helped in bringing down the use of wood at homes and the tribal people have also started treating the forest in a positive manner. According to the forest department, 4160 beneficiaries have been covered since 2017 in the last 4 years.
Extraction of wood biomass from the forests for fuel is one of the factors that reduces the forest cover and raises pollution alarm, as rural households of tribals rely entirely on this for their domestic energy. But, with the subsidised LPG initiative, the scenario is changing rapidly. Indian Masterminds interacted with Deputy Conservator of Forests, Nashik (West) Pankaj Garg, IFS, to know about this scheme in detail.
LPG BENEFICIARIES SCHEME
This is a scheme of the Maharashtra government to provide LPG to the villagers,especially tribals, who are living adjacent to forest areas.
Talking with Indian Masterminds, DCF Pankaj Garg, IFS,said, “Its purpose is to make lives easier for women who face difficulties in going to the forest to collect fuel wood. And secondly, their dependency on forest should be reduced and rather they should go more into conserving forest.We have joint forest management committee with the people through which we distribute LPG. All the Talukas of Nashik are covered with this government initiative.”
SOLAR WATER HEATERS IN TRIBAL VILLAGES
The officer said that the scheme has yielded very positive impact. People have broadened their connection with the forest and fuelwood consumption has reduced too. He also informed that the forest department has also initiated steps to install solar water heaters in tribal villages.
“In some tribal belts, the temperature drops in winters, and they need firewood to heat the water. So, we are taking step to supply a common solar water heater. A common water heater will be in every village to supply warm water. People only need to carry a bucket to a common point and collect the water from taps. Due to this, the firewood and fuelwood used to heat the water will also be greatly reduced,DCP Garg said.
SUBSIDY ON CYLINDER
On enquiring how the tribal people will bear the expenses of the costly gas cylinder in such high inflation days, the officer replied: “This scheme runs for 4 years from the start. We start off by providing gas connection along with LPG cylinder and gas stove. In the first year, we provide 12 subsidised cylinders, in the second year, 8 cylinders, in the third year, 6 cylinders, and then in the fourth and the last year, 4 cylinders. 75 percent subsidy is provided by the state government and only 25 percent needs to be paid by the tribal people on each cylinder in a year. For e.g., if there are 1000 cylinders, then Rs. 750 subsidy is provided by the government and only Rs. 250 will be paid by the villagers.”
POSITIVE IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT
DCP Garg further said that the initiative has brought about a great positive impact on the environment. The participation of common people has increased regarding forest conservation and their dependence on forest has reduced for wood and fuel. The women have benefited greatly, too.
“Now the women do not have to go inside the forest for fuel wood, where they were in great danger from wild animals. Also, there used to be a lot of indoor pollution inside the house because of the smoke. Now that has reduced a lot.”
