Arkavathi Jala Samvardhana & Vana Samvardhana Yojana (AJSVSY)

Arkavathi Jala Samvardhana &
Vana Samvardhana Yojana (AJSVSY)

Arkavathi Jala Samvardhana & Vana Samvardhana Yojana (AJSVSY) is a intiative of Sadhguru Sri Yogi Narayana Swamy Charitable Trust a non-profit organization committed to conservation of biodiversity, supported by its office bearers and the Graameena Vikas Yuvajagruthi Sangha initiated by the trust forming centers across every village in the region of Arkavathi river belt.

Introduction

This project will engage civil society, such as village community groups, and private enterprises in contributing in various forms to be alliance to make this project a success and to set an example for the building of awareness among the youth for “Conservation & Afforestation” in this region. The Deccan Platoon region comprising of the Arkavthi river belt, has its unique assemblages of plant communities and endemic species, is globally important for conserving biodiversity, this project requires immense attention on priority basis. The project focus only on the rural development in conserving biodiversity “Sujalam-Sufalam” as its motto and slogan, with contribution from the local community without any political mileage & boundaries.

The project extends along the Arkavthi river belts and surrounding 190 Km areas on both side of the riverbank covering total area of 1500 Square Kilometers Covering 10 taluks Comprising Chikkaballapur, Doddaballapur, Bengaluru North, Nelamangala, Magadi, Bidadi, Ramanagaram, Bengaluru South, Anekal, Kanakapura Taluk. All Taluk villages will be covered by Social Forestry and Agro Forestry comprising of govt land, Grass Lands, dry land, river belts, sub-channel regions, village connecting roads, sub-roads, reserve forest lands, Revenue Land Boundaries etc, where the Afforestation programme will be implemented. The region contains numerous medicinal plants and important genetic resources, which are getting endangered due to cutting down of the forest areas leading to imbalance in the ecosystem of the region.

This project will work with diverse social, religious, and linguistic groups and established religious institutions that strongly influence public opinion in decision-making process. Conservation challenges in engaging these social groups and involving them in community effort aimed at innovative and effective approaches to conservation and consolidation of importance of forests to human society. The basic philosophy of this project is the total involvement of the beneficiary community in the programme, which in turn is conjointed approach of the sponsoring agency and local people with the implementing agency for this cause.

Background & Importance

AJSVSY project is a five-year strategical programme consisting of Nursery development, Planting, Implementation and Maintenance of Deccan Plateau species of trees. The basic data is prepared by the trust with the support of local community coming forward to support this project in consultation with environment experts and agriculturists, With a main focus to encourage the community to grow local species of trees developed & grown in Trust owned nursery, to be distributed and planted by the trust free of cost in thousands & lakhs in village areas, thereby working on conservation of soil and water, habitats for birds and preserving bio-diversity in the region.

Scope & Implementation

The Project area consists of total 10 taluks, one taluk from Chikkaballapur dist, Five taluks from Bengaluru dist and four taluks of Ramanagar dist comprising of Arkavathi river belt. Five year project period consists of development of Nursery in the first year, Nursery will be developed in each taluk in a reputed expert nursery formers with water resource, The Planting period is for 2 months i.e. in the month of June & July, & next four years will be maintenance period with the help of local community.

Graameena Vikas Yuvajagruthi Sangha (GVYS) shall be created in all taluks, in every village centers will be created in surface waterbody of Arkavathi River Basin. with the help of Project Coordinators (PC), appointed by the trust for this purpose, PC will be come from local areas and will be responsible for creating GVYS and each village areas will plant 40 to 50 Thousand plants which are useful for human, birds & animals. The plants chosen for planting will have long life, with high resistance power & last longer in varied climatic condition know to environment experts & agriculturists.

Project Coordinators are appointed on salary basis by the trust to provide the much needed help and assistance at the village level to promote plantation efforts on a massive scale in their territory by mobilizing the local community to provide spirit and energy. This is basis for making the programme a massive movement.

Therefore it is necessary to understand certain characteristic responsibilities of the Project Co-ordinators who are employed.

Every Mandal Panchayat limit Two PCs will be appointed, each in all taluks to cover Arkavathy river basin benefiting all villages.

They will be provided necessary awareness and training in forestry & to make them effective extension agents training will be given on technical skill & professional competency consistent with the need.

To formulate pragmatic training courses during lean season on plan formulation, implementation and monitoring vital issues of concern.

The PC is positioned in the village for the exclusive purpose of establishing support with the village community for achieving the overall objective of the social forestry, Agro Forestry, Grass land Developments, Bio-Diversity Records, Watershed Programme and Awareness programmes. It is very essential for the PC to make the presence felt in his area of operation and extend on the spot technical services and physical assistance to the villagers.

To address elicit information on various issues and characteristics and answer certain qualitative questions to the village community.

The PC is Entrusted with the responsibility of social awareness programme, community guidelines, nursery care, distribution of seedlings, protection and such other related jobs.

To propagate plants known to the local community for their medicinal properties.
To conduct workshops for farmers and school-children to give live demonstrations on the importance of conservation of forest, wildlife conservation, watershed programme, community society guidelines, biodiversity conservation.

PC is sought to achieve the overall objective “to INFORM, to INSTRUCT, to INSPIRE” for their total commitment in their respective Village area.