Bhubaneswar: On the occasion of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the transformative ‘Mo Jungle Jami Yojana’.
The scheme aims to uphold the rights of both individuals and communities entitled to forest land. Furthermore, it envisions the integration of all developmental programs with this scheme, fostering stability in tribal livelihoods. Forest villages previously left unaccounted for will now be officially recognized as revenue villages.
In his address, the Chief Minister reaffirmed the government’s steadfast commitment to ensure comprehensive coverage of all eligible beneficiaries. He stressed that comprehensive measures have been implemented to eliminate the possibility of excluding any deserving individual.
This pioneering scheme aptly recognizes the invaluable contributions of tribals to the sustainable growth of forest resources. It also plays a pivotal role in mitigating the impact of climate change, while simultaneously enhancing the tribal economy and livelihoods.
Naveen Patnaik proudly announced Odisha’s leadership in granting forest land rights, highlighting the impressive number of 4,50,000 tribals and forest-dwelling families who have been beneficiaries of these rights. Additionally, over 4000 Gram Sabhas have been vested with community rights. The transformational process of endowing revenue village status to previously unregistered forest villages is already underway.
The Chief Minister emphasized that his administration has been unwavering in its commitment to tribal welfare since 2000. He cited the significant decision to empower panchayats with the authority to collect minor forest produce as a crucial step. Substantial progress has been made, with tribals making significant advancements in education, healthcare, and various other domains, earning recognition across various fields.
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