Chapter V
SWOT ANALYSIS OF VSS
WEAKNESS
1. The communities consisting of poor and illiterate people.
2. Inadequate social amenities (shops) PHCs, Nursery care, schooling etc.
3. Lack of co-ordination between Departments.
4. Inadequacy of funds for development activities.
5. Vested group interests in the community.
6. Complexity of existing rules and laws.
7. Wrong selection of tree species. Fodder and usufruct producing trees are largely ignored.
8. Frequent transfers of the FD staff.
9. Non co-operation of the Panchayat for conservation activities.10. Lack of clarity in the definition of the rights and responsibilities of both the community and the Govt.
11. Gender issues limited to women's presence/participation in the samithies.
12. Weak legal footing. The community can only plead for rights and not claim. The power or termination of VSS is vested with the DFO.
13. Differences in the perception towards JFM create conflicts of interests. FD sees JFM as a means for regenerating forests, the local communities view it as a means of meeting their livelihood. (fodder, fuelwood, small timber etc.)
14. Inter-departmental co-ordination weak.
OPPORTUNITIES
1. For sensitizing the people on the importance of Conservation of Forests.
2. Decision making of communities in natural resource management.
3. VSS serves as a venue to discuss issues.
4. To initiate Micro enterprises through SH groups.
5. Women empowerment through participation.
6. Preparation of micro plans by communities.
7. To bring together scattered communities into a common plat form.
8. Technological improvement in planting material.
9. Change in the attitude of the FD officials.
10. Play a catalytic role in bringing several policy and institutional issues to the table.
11. Help focus attention on areas that need reform.
THREATS
1. Destruction of crops by wild animals.
2. Intervention of Tribal Co-operatives in NTFP collection.
3. Development of political and communal groups in the VSS.
4. Existence of sand, liquor mafias who use the community to their advantage.