Efforts on to increase India's forest cover: Govt

NEW DELHI: Efforts are on to increase India's forest cover to one-third of the land area, environment and forests minister Prakash Javadekar informed Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

"Green cover is increasing and government's intention is to take it to 33 per cent (of the total land area)," he said during Question Hour.

Stressing on the need for people's participation in the afforestation drive, he said, "we are going to make it people's movement" and awareness would be created using advertisements and social media.

"To spread public awareness regarding conservation of forests and environment in the country, Information Education and Communication (IEC) activities through modes of mass communication — print media, radio and TV — are taken up in National Afforestation and Eco Development Board Scheme," he said.

Outlining the seriousness of the government in this regard, the Minister said that for the first time allocation has been made in the budget for afforestation.

Replying to another question related to women workers in Chhattisgarh, minister of housing and urban poverty alleviation M Venkaiah Naidu said three project proposals of 'Sangwari' were received from the state government under SJSRY for socio-economic uplift of 2,900 domestic women workers through skill up-gradation.

He said the state was suggested to undertake those projects under the regular skill training component of Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojna (SJSRY).