Forest Department’s Panchavati scheme useful in setting up developmental centers for Scheduled Castes

The Social Forestry Department, under the leadership of the Forest Department in Vadodara and Chhotaudepur districts, has prepared models of the government’s Panchavati scheme at Itola, Wankaner and Sukhlipura in the state.

Under this scheme, Panchavati Vikas Kendras have been set up for the Scheduled Castes to strengthen public organization, celebrate social occasions and carry out welfare activities to increase livelihood.

Under this scheme, Ujani house, which can seat 50-60 people, living room and veranda, kitchen shed, toilet, water supply, furniture, appliances, fencing and entrance, garden lawn and tree planting are provided. These arrangements will be used by the Scheduled Castes for the purpose of celebrating occasions (weddings, social occasions) and increasing livelihoods (home industry). However, all the communities in the village can benefit from it.

Under this scheme, Panchavati scheme will be made on the institutional land of Scheduled Caste or on the collective land up to 500 meters from the Scheduled Caste pod. Formed self-help groups of interested locals, will be administered by them.

The gardens allotted in the Panchvati scheme are for the cultivation of different types of trees by the Scheduled Castes in the space for lawn and tree cultivation and for the production of various crops from horticulture. With the excellent ideology of the social forestry department, the scheme encourages tree farming and new industries for livelihood growth.