Shimla, April 25 -- The Himachal Pradesh government's integrated approach to employment generation and environmental conservation is delivering encouraging outcomes. According to a release, under the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana (RGVSY), launched last year, nearly 300 women's groups, 70 youth groups and 75 other self-help groups carried out plantation activities across about 1,100 hectares of land.

Building on this momentum, the Forest Department has set an ambitious target for 2026-27 to undertake plantations over approximately 4,000 hectares by engaging 1,100 community groups. Of these, 60 per cent will be women's groups, 20 per cent youth groups and 20 per cent other self-help groups. A budgetary provision of around Rs. 55 crore...