In Himachal, 2,033 newly recruited Van Mitras to get appointment letters soon

CM Sukhu says mahila mandals, yuvak mandals to be compensated for forest conservation
SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed Forest Department officials to rope in mahila mandals and yuvak mandals, self-help groups and panchayats to enhance and conserve the forest cover across the state.

Reviewing various schemes and projects of the Forest Department in Shimla on Tuesday (March 4, 2025), the Chief Minister said that in lieu of their services, they would be suitably compensated and the state government had allocated Rs 100 crore in this regard.

Sukhu said these groups would be encouraged by offering incentives after five years depending upon the survival percentage of saplings.

Forest officials told to focus on afforestation

The Chief Minister directed officials to plant 60 per cent of fruit trees and high value fodder species in the forest area to stop wild animals in the forest in order to avoid damages caused by these animals to the crops of the farmers.

Sukhu instructed the department to focus on their core responsibilities of afforestation and assured adequate staffing and all possible assistance.

The Chief Minister directed the Forest Department to involve private entrepreneurs to enhance forest cover and said the department would provide technical support to such entities. He asked the department to evolve a mechanism of monitoring the survival of the plantation.

He said the state government was committed to conserve and protect the environment of the state and in the last two years of the present government, numerous steps had been taken in this regard.

55% of selected Van Mitras women

Chief Minister Sukhu said appointment letters to the newly selected Van Mitras would be sent shortly. He said 2,033 candidates had been selected and 55 per cent of the selected candidates were female.

He directed the Forest Department to design an orientation programme for Van Mitras to make them understand their roles and responsibilities in the department, which will commence from the first week of May this year.

He said the government would also provide uniform and other accessories worth Rs 6,000 each to Van Mitras.
The Chief Minister said that the state government was also promoting ecotourism in the state to generate employment and self-employment for the local people. He said in the first phase, the department has activated 8 ecotourism sites and within next two weeks, 78 sites would be made functional.

Additional Chief Secretary KK Pant, Secretary to Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar, PCCF (HoFF) Sameer Rastogi and senior officers of Forest Department also attended the meeting.

Sunil Chadha