Gujarat to spend Rs 154 crore for forest development

The Central Government has also agreed to transfer 52,706 acres of forest land to Gujarat, Patel said.

This is also perhaps for the first time after 53 years of independence that the tribals got titles of ownership of forest land for cultivation purpose, he said.

The Chief Minister said the transfer of ownership is part of his government’s poverty alleviation programme.

Patel said several NGOs, including Self-Employed Women Association headed by Ila Bhatt, have taken up responsibliities of developmental activities in 1200 villages of the state.

He said that his government is determined to improve the conditions of tribals and poors by undertaking various development programmes.

Patel said the state government would distribute 70,000 cycles to the tribal students this year to enable them to go to schools located at far off places.

The government has already distributed 1.75 lakh cycles to the tribal students, he added.

To raise money for developmental works, the tax recovery process was speeded up which helped the government to raise Rs 3,200 crore last year without imposing any new tax, Patel said.

In Baroda district, 5,732 tribals got 11,087 acres of forest land transferred to their names, the Chief Minister said, adding similar land transfers will be done in other parts of the state.