The scheme is designed to offer alternative sources of income and discourage illegal activities such as hunting and poaching, which have long posed a threat to wildlife conservation.
Odisha government sanctions Rs 125 crore for ‘Ama Similipal Yojana’: In a major move aiming at creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for communities residing around the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR), the Odisha government approves Rs 125 crore ‘Ama Similipal Yojana’.
Regional Chief Conservator of Forests (RCCF)-cum-Field Director of STR Prakash Chand Gogineni said, ‘ The funds for the project have already been released to the tiger reserve authorities, and the scheme is expected to be officially launched before October.’ The officials are currently finalising the implementation strategy based on the Detailed Project Report (DPR), which was submitted to the state government nearly seven months ago.
The scheme will cover around 200 villages located in the foothills of the STR. Gogineni said that, based on the concept of ‘Jiban Jibika’ (livelihood generation), the scheme is designed to offer alternative sources of income and discourage illegal activities such as hunting and poaching, which have long posed a threat to wildlife conservation. Under the initiative, financial and technical support will primarily be extended through Self-Help Groups.
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