SMRUTI VAN
स्मृती वन
LIVE MEMORIAL OF TREES ON COMMUNITY WASTE LAND / ZUDPI JUNGLE
The concept of Smriti Van is a novel idea of involving society at large in nature conservation. This is a concept in which trees can be planted, including on marriage, birthdays, anniversaries, demise, friendship or in the remembrance of near and dear ones or as tourists to site. The concept can be implemented by setting up "Smriti Van" on all possible waste land, zudpi forest in possession of gram panchyat / revenue, urban areas, tourist places, religious places and crematorium etc. Recent awareness amongst staff of corporate / industrial houses/ IT industries to perform individual social responsibility/ individual environmental responsibility can be tapped for such programme of national interest as well as for the sustainable future.
Mobilizing the individuals for this innovative concept though time taking and required perseverance, can be done by the dedicated voluntary organization/ social groups. The initiatives for this purpose no doubt have to be taken by the state government or the local body by making the land available. The planning and implementation would necessarily require active participation of the local community institution and ultimately the management should be entrusted to the organizations, NGO's or welfare associations etc. working in the location which ensures the sustainability of the project beyond project implementation period.
All over the world, people believe in perpetuating the memory by erecting memorials. Trees can be planted as "Live Memorial". Planting of a tree(s), on any occasion would not only satisfy the desire to keep the memory fresh, but also help in the national cause of "Greening and Maintaining the ecological balance as well as atmospheric equilibrium" .The planting of non timber species, which have value in terms of the regular usufruct they give like fruits, flowers, nuts, leaves, fodder and even shade, without having to be felled when mature, will enhance the concept of perpetuation of the memory of an ancestor, who is seen to continue to be a benefactor.
The Matsya Puran says that, "Ten sons are equal to a tree." We can plant several hundreds of trees whose contribution to the state and nation for the cause of Environment and Ecology would be universallyacknowledged.
Similar projects could be seen in Sikkim with the initiatives of the state forest department.
Keeping in view the availability of sizable waste land in Vidarbha so referred as zudpi in isolated patches in rural as well as urban areas which is difficult to manage, can be identified and allotted for such purpose without any change in legal status. Under this project of PPP nature government need not make any budgetary provision but make the land available for the purpose with full responsibility of management and protection to voluntary organization working in that area. However government support in terms of integration of various schemes will be expected like water shed development, structures for water harvesting in soil conservation under Jal Yukta Shivar etc.
PROPOSAL: Create Smriti Van on government zudpi land bearing khasra no. 123 admeasuring 22 ha highly degraded, eroded and with isolated buses and few neem trees is available in mouza Bawangaon , Tal. Saoner District Nagpur by VIKALPA (in association with GAYATRI PARIWAR AND DEV SANKIRTI VISHWAVIDYALAY) a voluntary organization who is working in the area in imparting quality education through innovative self financed self sustained agro-centric school. The details of Vikalpa with its profile and legal status is enclosed as annexure1.
LEGAL STATUS OF LAND: This land has a title zudpi government and in possession of the revenue department, entrusted to gram panchyat for the purpose of plantation since 1974. The satellite picture depicting the existing density is also enclosed. The land is undulated, highly eroded and need soil conservation structures as well as rain water harvesting structure. The land is in influence area of Pench National Park though outside of its buffer zone.
IMPLEMENTING AGENCY: Vikalpa is a voluntary organization in association with consortium of groups viz Gayatri Pariwar and Dev Sanskirt Vishwvidyalaya Nagpur. Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will be out of assocaiton of three organizations and will be lead by Vikalpa .
Vikalpa is working since 1996 for rural development through science, technology and spiritual interventions. It is registered under Society Registration ct 1860 and Bomaby trust Act. Detail profile is enclosed as annexure 1. Vikalpa has been working in the area and possess natural resource management training center as well as ABHYUDAYA GLOBAL VILLAGE SCHOOL a self sustained agro-centric and enterprise focus affordable education for the marginalized in rural village cluster. The school is situated on agriculture land admeasuring 1.07 ha. Plot no. 121/2, mouza Bawangaon Tal Saoner, District Nagpur 40 km from Nagpur acquired on lease for 50 years. It has working experiences of various industrial houses and public sector for their socio-eocnomic survey, rehabilitation and resettlement et. Vikalpa has been working in decentralized planning process and closely working for biodiversity conservation, joint forest management and enterprise development for the rural youths.
Vikalpa has associations with many social and spiritual organization which includes Gayatri Parivar, Dev Sanskirt Vishwvidyalaya, vanvasi Kalyan Ashtram, Bharitya Shiksha Parishad Chinmaya Mission , Rotary Clubs, Senior Citien Clubs, Yoga centers, spiritual groups and youths associations. It has band of dedicated volunteers to mobilize the donors, philanthropic hand for any works carried out in public interest at large.
GAYATRI PRARIVAR ( Sonu to add)
DEV SANSKRIT VISHWAVIDYALAYA (Sonu to add)
AFFORSTATION PLAN:
The said piece of barren land admeasuring 22 ha can be effectively covered under silvi-pasture model tree plantation of indigenous species and the native flora of Pench national park associated with control grazing plots of fodder grasses for stall feeding for the community around.
SPECIES SELECTION: Exhaustive list of species to be planted is enclosed which will be subject to modifications depending on the availability, adoptability.
CENTRAL NURSERY:
Vikalpa proposes to create central nursery of the difference species with root trainer technology and the plants will be made available as and when required. Nursery will also be available for sale of trees by the willing person/ farmers to plant additional trees which will be useful for them and supporting to small farms.
NO OF TREES: Keeping in view the terrain, the number of big trees could be around 400 per acre. Thus total capacity of the area considering 60 to 70 % availability for plantation would around 8000.
SCHEMES:
The task will be achieved through following schemes
1. SMRUTI VAN: The individual donor/ person on the occasion he/she wants to memorize will plant a trees of selected species of his choice from the nursery. Vikalpa will undertake plantation of the tree including pit preparation, fertigation, watering and treatment if any for its good growth. The display of name in whose memory the plant has been planted and date and name of the contributor will be displayed on permanent board on the tree guard provided for each plant. Separate register will also be maintained for the same along with photograph of the event.
2. ADOPTION OF TREES BY GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS LIKE SCHOOL/ COLLEGE/ ROTARY/ BHAJANI MANDAL, SR. CITIZEN etc. The tree plantation tree will also be opened for the groups. Around 2500 sq food area will be allotted to each group with 25 numbers of trees to be planted in the name of groups and name displayed on the slot.
3. INTERPRETATION CENTER: Smruti van will have one interpretation center for the visitors, contributor and donor containing information of the flora of the areas, birds, biodiversity, wild animals, environment and NTFPs around. School and Colleges of the urban area as well as rural areas will be invited for excursion tours once the smruti van is established
4. SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION STRUCTURES: The area is suitable for demonstrating all most all models of water harvesting, water conservation, soil conservation. These will be constructed and will be demonstrated to visitors/ school students visiting the smruti van. State Government can contribute to this project by way of integrating the existing schemes of water shed or Jal ukta Shiwar Karyakram of Govt.
5. FENCING: The area will be bio-fenced with Bomboo trees/ shikekai, sagargoti. Individual tree will have tree guard with having display boards having information of tree, botanical and vernacular name and name in whose memory the tree is planted. These tree guards will be recycled after complete growth of the tress. Besides this solar fencing will be installed to protect he areas from intrusion from illegal tree cutting and poaching of birds etc.
6. RECREATION AREA: Small area will be created having status Panchavati with important trees like Banyan, Awala, Bel, Audumbar, Pipal, path ways of tulsi, flowering trees, play equipment for the small children from school of adjoining villages, fountains and small canteen.
BUDGET:
The estimated cost for this project will be around 6 lacs per he. as per model of government of Maharashtra for compensatory afforestation . Thus total expenditure will be around 1.20 crores in seven year cycle for 20 ha land . Thereafter annual expenses of Rs. 6 lakh per year will be required for operation and maintenance of the project . The estimated cost per tree is around Rs 1500/- including maintenance for seven years
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
1. Adoption of Tree: Individuals will contribute Rs. 2500 towards the adoption per tree which includes cost of tree guards and Rs. 2500 for corpus funds in the form of interest free FDs and the recurring expenses beyond seven years will be done from the interest of the FDs after seven years. Thus donor will have long term association through smurti van project. Total number of individuals are expected to take part in this project is estimated to be around 2500 considering adoption of two to five trees average by an individual. Individual donor/ group/ association for this project will be eligible for rebate under section 80G of Income Tax.
INCOME FOR THE SMRUTI VAN FOR RECURRING EXPENSES:
Recurring cost involved in plantation, nursery, replacement etc for seven years will be carried out under plantation drive for first seven years. Subsequent protection, maintenance will be taken up from the interest on corpus funds, fees from the visitors other than the donors/ contributor to the scheme, sale of fodder for stall feeding and visitors to the interpretation centers and smruti van Etc.
LEGAL STATUS OF THE LAND: The legal status of the land will not change and land will be returnable to government for their project as and when required by termination of lease to the implementing agency.
NO PERMANENT STRUCTURES: Except for basic infrastructure like interpretation center, sanitation and recreation no construction will come on this land.