Conserving the forests

Samprati Motghare
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


As per Forest Survey of India, the total recorded forest cover of West Bengal is 13.4% of total geographic area of the state. The forest cover, including forests created outside the recorded forest area is 15.52% of total geographic area of West Bengal which was assessed through satellite imagery. Reserved forests constitute 59%, protected forests 32% and unclassed forests constitute 9% of the total forest area of the state.

Around 3.3% of the state comes under Protected Areas consisting of 5 National Parks and 15 Wildlife Sanctuaries. A special mention must go to Sunderbans which has been declared as a biosphere reserve due to its unique ecosystem and also a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The new state government is determined to conserve these forests and help local communities through sustainable livelihood solutions.


Increasing and conserving forest cover: During the past 34 months, government has planted 6.2 crore saplings in close to 10,000 hectare area. This step also provided employment to the tune of 78.6 lakh man days. About 4,386 Bon Suraksha committees have been formed to conserve forests. A new body, West Bengal Wasteland Development Corporation Limited, has been formed and it has completed tree plantation over 1,260 acres of land.


Eco-tourism: A total of 20 eco-tourism projects have been undertaken by West Bengal Forest Development Corporation comprising of 17 projects for North Bengal and 3 for South Bengal. The main aim is to provide more livelihood opportunities to local communities as the more tourists visit these places. Construction has begun in many locations and Lamahata eco-tourism project has already received completion.


Benefits to the people: As there are many Kendu (Tendu) leaves gatherers in forest area, government has increased the procurement of these leaves from Rs 48 per chata (2000 leaves) to Rs 75 per chata, benefitting a lot of families especially in rural and tribal areas. Rs 4.5 Cr has been distributed as compensation to all families who lost any member of their family or has their crop damaged because of wild animals.


Increase in revenue: There has been an increase of 38% in revenues from forest wood during the tenure of new government, with revenue for 2012-13 being Rs 104.24 crore as compared to Rs 75.33 crore in 2010-11.


International assistance: The state government is taking international assistance in its quest to conserve bio-diversity. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is assisting West Bengal in a Rs 406 crore project where as World Bank is assisting with Coastal Zone Management Project at Purba Medinipur.

Food for all

Tanmay Mondal
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


The Food and Supplies department under the West Bengal Government has been working hard for the last three years to increase the foodgrain procurement in the State as well as provide food for all. From reforming the Public Distribution System (PDS) to providing rice at nominal price to the socially and financially backward sections of the society, the Trinamool led West Bengal Government has worked for the people.


Food for the poor

About 3.20 crore socially and financially backward people are being provided with rice at the rate of Rs 2 per kg. Some noteworthy regions/places whose people are getting the benefit of this initiative are:

• Jangalmahal region (West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia)

• Aila-affected region of the Sunderbans

• Closed tea gardens

• People from some endangered tribes such as Birhar, Lodha, Shabar

• Unwilling peasants of Singur

• Vagabonds of Kolkata

• Seven tribal-dominated blocks in Birbhum district (people from the Toto community) are getting rice and wheat free of cost.


Greater procurement

• The quantity of rice procurement has exceeded 20.5 lakh MT during the kharif season of 2012-13, which is the highest ever in the last few couple of decades.

• During the last-two-and-a-half years, warehouse capacity has been enhanced from 40,000 MT to 1.03 lakh MT for preservation of food grains. The work of constructing more warehouses, having a total capacity of 3 lakh MT, is going on in full swing.


New infrastructure

• New Khadya Bhawans have been constructed at eight places - Ghatal, Krishnanagar, Kalna, Cooch Behar, Barrackpore, Jalpaiguri, Mekhligunge and Bangaon.

• Construction of Khadya Bhawans at 14 more places - Dinhata, Mathabhanga, Tehatta, Diamond Harbour, Barasat, Bankura, Howrah, Arambagh, Raghunathgunge, Bishnupur, Uluberia, Jhargram, Midnapore and Kashipur - is going on.

• The proposal for construction of a 14 more Khadya Bhawans/Inspection Buildings - at Domkal, Egra, Tufangunge, Kurseong, Asansol, Contai, Burdwan, Lake Gardens (Kolkata), Mukutmanipur, Santiniketan, Meteli, Digha, Bidhannagar and at the headquarters of the Food and Supply Department in Kolkata - has been taken up.

• In order to make the offices of the Food and Supplies Department in 115 blocks more popular, they are being modernised. Those in the rest of the blocks, which is 226, will start shortly.


Reforming the PDS

• The work of computerisation of PDS is going on at a cost of Rs 112 crore. Digitisation of ration cards and their entry into a database is under process. Till now, 4.35 crore digitised ration cards have been prepared. The remaining cards will be prepared by March 2014.

• More than one crore forged and bogus ration cards have been revoked since May 2011. The government is providing a subsidy amounting to Rs 1000 crore in PDS for the benefit of poor people.

• Non-PDS items have been made available in ration shops at fair prices for the benefit of the common people. A Retail Marketing Centre is going to be made operational in Kolkata.


Managing the distribution of foodgrains

• To prevent smuggling of subsidised foodgrain, a transport system using vehicles having a special colour scheme has been introduced.

• Important information relating to the distribution of foodgrains through public distribution system is being disseminated regularly to people's representatives and local inhabitants through SMS.


Assistance to farmers

Zero-balance accounts have been opened in favour of the farmers who sell paddy to the government and government-appointed agents. They are being paid the selling price of paddy through account payee cheques.


Use of modern technology

A modern laboratory has been set up at Khadya Bhawan in Kolkata. This will ensure that rice, flour, wheat, edible oil and other food items distributed through the public distribution system (PDS) are of good quality.