Ashok RainaDharamshala, July 12 -- The Himachal Pradesh government has intensified its community-led afforestation drive under the Rajiv Gandhi Forest Conservation Scheme, aiming to increase the state's forest cover from around 28 per cent to 30 per cent by 2030 while generating rural employment and strengthening environmental conservation.
The scheme, launched under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, focuses on public participation by involving Mahila Mandals, Yuvak Mandals, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and other registered community organisations in plantation, protection and maintenance of forests on vacant and degraded forest land.
Under the programme, each eligible community organisation can be allotted up to five he...