Vacant government lands are being converted into green spaces under an ambitious programme called, ‘Indiramma Pachcha Thoranam,’ being taken up by the State Government in convergence with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
With the programme guaranteeing sustainable livelihood opportunities to the beneficiaries, most of them small and marginal farmers belonging to SC/ST communities, many of them are keen on enrolling for the programme.
Under the scheme, each beneficiary would be provided with ‘Chettu Patta,’ a hereditary, inalienable and usufruct rights to raise and reap the produce of trees.
With the programme, vast tracts of land lying on road margins, irrigation tanks, drain/canal bunds etc could be put to good use and provide a sustainable livelihood to the marginalised and landless sections.
“We have completed pitting activity in 11 mandals covering 56 beneficiaries and we now have 7,353 pits under the programme in the district,” said Project Director of the District Water Management Agency, Guntur, S. Dilli Rao.
Planting activity
Minister for Rural Development Dokka Manikya Vara Prasada Rao on Saturday inaugurated the planting activity at Munagapadu Grama Panchayat in Phirangipuram mandal by presenting a ‘Chettu Patta’ to Yarraguntla Martamma.
After the pitting is completed, the beneficiary will be paid to maintain the plantation, protect it by growing brushwood fencing and cost of watering the plant apart from contingency grant.
“The scheme gives assured monthly income to the beneficiaries. For instance, man growing 200 plants (100 Mango and 100 Sapota plants) could get more than Rs.8,000 as assured monthly income,” says Mr. Rao.
Under the scheme, each beneficiary would be paid Rs.36,000 as annual maintenance charge, Rs.25,000 for bush wood fencing, Rs.10,000 for application of fertilizer in addition to Rs.33,200 or watering the plants. A contingency grant of Rs.5,000 per year would be paid in the first year.
