State government officials participating in a regional orientation and planning workshop on the PACS Programmes NREGS Campaign 2008, organised on July 9, 2008, by Development Alternatives and PROACT, in Taragram, Jhansi, invited CSOs to support the states special plantation drive in the backward Bundelkhand region.

UP Bundelkhand comprises the districts of Banda, Chitrakut, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Jalaun, Jhansi and Lalitpur.

A hundred million saplings will be planted in Bundelkhand within the next 60 days, and beneficiaries of the NREGS will be employed to dig holes and take care of these trees, said Commissioner, Rural Development, Manoj Kumar Singh, explaining the state governments ambitious Rs 450 crore tree plantation drive that will end on August 31, 2008.

He added that this was a great opportunity for CSOs to assess successes and discrepancies in the NREGS as well as bring to the notice of the authorities improper practices in the schemes implementation so that the government could correct them.

Secretary, Forests, Pawan Kumar, explained the importance of the plantation drive in Bundelkhand and emphasised the role of CSOs in making the programme a success.

District Magistrate, Jhansi, M Devraj said: It is an opportunity for NGOs to participate in a scheme from the very first day and ensure that public participation adds more force to the governments efforts.

There will be three-tier monitoring of the plantation drive: by the department, by district collectors, and by NGOs.

CSOs present sought information on the species of trees used and the number of trees being procured and planted, district-wise. The entire process is transparent; these saplings are being procured from forest department nurseries across the entire state and you are welcome to intervene if you notice any discrepancies during the plantation drive, said Singh. Mostly, local tree varieties that are indigenous to the area will be planted on forest land and land belonging to government departments and local bodies.

Singh also assured CSO partners that the government would reimburse any expenses incurred whilst monitoring the drive and ensuring quality control.

DFID adviser, Dr Prakash Louis, promised the full support of PACS Programme partners in the plantation drive, as an extension of NREGS Campaign 2008.

CSO partners will have an opportunity to interact with government officials and augment the scope of NREGS Campaign 2008. Mamta Jain of Upman, a Jhansi-based CSO, said: We can now directly interact with the DM and other officials about any discrepancies we notice in implementation of the NREGS during our monitoring. If they take action, it will ensure that the campaign is a success because beneficiaries will receive wages on time for the work they do.

Till August 7, 2008, 16 PACS Programme CSOs had received letters to undertake tree plantation monitoring work in 20 of UP Bundelkhands 47 blocks; many CSOs had already embarked on preliminary information-gathering and surveys.