Uttarakhand Cabinet Approves Amendment to Forest Panchayat Rules

Dehradun, March 15, 2024 -In a significant move aimed at empowering local governance and enhancing forest management, the Uttarakhand state cabinet has given its nod to the Forest Panchayat Amendment Rules. This marks the first amendment to the British-era laws governing Van Panchayats, aimed at bolstering their authority and self-sufficiency.

The decision was made during a meeting of the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, as confirmed by the Chief Minister’s Secretary, Shailesh Bagauli.

The amended Van Panchayat rules introduce a three-tier local body system linked to forest management, ushering in a new era of governance in forest areas.

Uttarakhand stands out as the sole state in India where the Van Panchayat system is in place. Established in 1930 during the British era, it serves as a community-driven organization for forest management.

With a total of 11,217 forest panchayats overseeing 4.52 lakh hectares of forest area, the amendment significantly enhances their structure and functions.

Under the revised rules, each Forest Panchayat will now comprise nine members, including nominees from the village head and the Biodiversity Management Committee. Additionally, municipalities overseeing forest panchayats’ areas will nominate one member to the panchayat.

To bolster the independence of Van Panchayats in marketing their produce, they have been granted rights in various activities such as herbal production, tree planting, water harvesting, forest fire prevention, and eco-tourism. The income generated from these activities can be reinvested in forest maintenance.

Furthermore, Forest Panchayats are now authorized to issue movement passes for non-timber forest produce, including flowers, leaves, herbs, and swing grass, among others.

The amendment to Forest Panchayat rules signifies a landmark step towards decentralizing forest governance and empowering local communities in Uttarakhand.