Forest Department has embarked on a socio-economic survey in ten tribal hamlets, including seven in Karamadai range, for generation of base line data to decide on the components for income generation and community development to be done through ecological sustainable development as part of the Tamil Nadu Bio-diversity conservation and Greening Project (TBGP).
Talking to The Hindu , District Forest Officer V. Thirunavukkarasu said that a baseline survey are under way in Keelpillur, Keelchengalur, Veppamarathur, Siththakonai, Thondai, Seengupathi, Maanar, Gethaikadu, Uliyur, Kadamaankombia, Muthalmaankombai hamlets.
An NGO involved in conservation of ecology, Osai was deputing volunteers for conducting the survey, said Osai President and Vice-President K. Kalidasan and M. Ganesh.
The major components of the TBGP are biodiversity conservation, increasing the natural resource base, institutional capacity development. The outcome of the survey would include: family income of target beneficiaries and non-target beneficiaries in ecological development ventures as well as TCPL (tree cultivation in private lands), other well-being indicators (poverty, human development index) and household expenses on fuel wood, fodder and number of house holds adopting efficient energy sources.