In the forest villages, inhabitants are deprived of basic amenities and facilities which are usually available to residents of a revenue village. With the conversion into revenue villages, farmers, staying in the forest villages, will be able to avail the loan facility for purchasing fertilisers, seeds, etc. Moreover, they will also continue to get benefits of schemes of the forest department.
"The state government had started the process to convert the 400 forest villages into revenue villages and the officials of the department concerned had been given necessary direction in this regard," Chief Minister Raman Singh said. The state government is making serious efforts to implement its announcements, he added.
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The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in its election manifesto had promised to convert forest villages into revenue villages. Though the party performed poorly in tribal pockets, that had maximum forest villages, in the recently concluded state polls, the state government has decided to give priority to its election promises.
Singh said the district collectors and Forest Board officials have been instructed to complete the procedure of demarcation of forest villages by January 15.
The state government was also considering giving forest land deed (patta) to the non tribal families. A delegation from Lormi area, on Tuesday, met the chief minister and requested him to issue patta to the non-tribal families residing in forest villages.
The villagers said that they had been residing in those villages for last 70-80 years and hence, they should also be provided with the forest right pattas.
Singh talked to the officials concerned and asked to take necessary action in this regard, a government spokesperson said.