JOINT FOREST MANAGEMENT

Vana Samrakshana Samithies

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There are 12 stages in the formation of the Vana Samrakshana Samithies.

Table 2.1
Stages of VSS formation

Preliminary	Planning	Implementation
1. Site identification- Specification of area and locality of the VSS	5. PRA - PRA is the technique adopted for the preparation of Micro Plan	9. Credibility Fund - Grant provided to VSS for initiating the activities
2. Memorandum of Association (MOA drafting)- It is a vision statement of VSS	6. Micro Plan - It is a plan of activities regarding conservation and community development for 5 years	10. Annual Action Plan - Action Plan prepares annually according to the Budgetary Resources
3. VSS Registration- Recognition by Forest Department	7. Micro Plan approval - Approval by Conservator of Forests	11.Annual Action Plan Approval- Approval by Conservator of Forests
4. Mobilisation of Funds- i. Core Fund- Funds provided to VSS through FDAs and FD and are at the disposal of VSS ii. Operational Fund- Funds in the joint A/c. of President/Secretary channelled through FDAs and FD	8. MOU Signing- The memorandum of understanding in the form of an agreement executed by Forest Department and VSSs concerning the norms for the protection of the Micro Plan area	12. Field Implementation - Implementation of Micro Plan at VSS level.

Constitution of VSS

Each household in the selected ward/hamlet/user-groups have the option of participating in the Samithi. Any two adult members of a household can participate in the VSS and one should be a woman. They shall register their names with the Range Officer on payment of a sum of Rs. 5/- per household, which shall be credited to the core fund of the VSS. SC/ST members are exempted from the payment of registration fee. For the purpose of sharing benefits each family is considered as a single unit. The approval of the DFO is mandatory for the VSS. The DFO shall issue a registration number, date of approval to each VSS approved by him. New members to the VSS shall be admitted once in a year on recommendation by Vana Samrakshana Samithi and Executive Committee to the Divisional Forest Officer.

Executive Committee

a) Fringe VSS

The Executive Committee of VSS consists of the following members.

i) Nine elected representatives from the VSS. Out of the
nine members, at least 3 shall be women. There shall be : Member
proportional representations from SC/ST communities

ii) Grama Panchayat member of the : Ex-Officio
concerned Panchayat Ward : Member

iii) A representative of an active local NGO
(nominated by the DFO) : -do-

iv) A nominee from the Tribal Devpt. Dept. (only : Ex-officio member
in the case of VSS in which tribal members : Ex-officio member
Exceeded 1/3 of the total membership) : Secretary

v) Forest/Forest Guard having jurisdiction of the area

vi) The ex-officio member-Secretary shall call a meeting of the Executive Committee of VSS in consultation with the President and shall record and maintain the minutes of the meeting.

vii) The Range Officer shall be the Returning Officer for the election of members of Executive Committee of VSS.

viii) The approval of the DFO is mandatory for the Executive Committee of VSS.

The committee shall elect the President from the elected members. The term of the President shall be co-terminus with that of the Committee. The elected members have voting rights. 1/3 of the members of the Executive Committee constitute the quorum. The term of the committee shall be 2 years

b) Tribal VSS

In the Tribal VSS, officials from the ST Development Department are also included.

Besides forest protection, VSS is empowered to prepare plan for non-forestry activities. This is considered as Peoples' Plan of the locality which does not violate the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act. The VSS also prepare Micro Plan projections.

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