Indore: The Madhya Pradesh government will
soon launch a scheme to increase greenery in tribal-dominated
districts in the state.
"We are launching 'Dev Vraksh Prahari Yojana' shortly in
Dhar, Jhabua and Alirajpur districts of the state where a
large number of tribals live," Indore Circle Chief Conservator
of Forest (CCF) P C Dubey said today.
Under the scheme, the responsibility of growing, caring
and protecting trees would rest with the tribals, he said,
adding they were close to nature and have been worshiping some
trees since centuries.
The Forest department has already identified six species
of such trees which are being worshiped by Bhil and Bhilala
tribals in the western areas of the state. The tribals
consider these trees as their "family god", Dubey said.
The Forest department would provide saplings of banyan,
bamboo, jamun, peepal, anjan and mango to the tribals.
Vishal Verma, a tribal culture expert, said there are
nearly 100 clans of Bhil and Bhilala tribes in western area of
the state and all these clans worship trees or animals as
their family gods.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, July 04, 2010, 17:52