Bhopal, Jan 12: A daylong workshop was held here Academy of Administration to impart training to master trainers about process related to implementation of Schedule Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 and 2007. One hundred and fifty master trainers from Bhopal, Hoshangabad and Sagar division took part in the workshop. These master trainers were selected by the district collectors and included officers from Forest, Revenue, Tribal Welfare, Panchayat and Rural Development Departments. These master trainers would not return to their respective villages and train the nodal officers who would in turn give detailed information about the Act to villagers at the village meetings to be held from January 26, 2008.

Those present at the workshop include Principal Secretary Tribal Welfare and Scheduled Castes OP Rawat, Commissioner Tribal Welfare Jaideep Govind, Director Tribal Regional Development Schemes Ms Rashmi Arun Shami and other departmental officers.

Addressing the training programme, Principal Secretary OP Rawat said the state government has completed all the preparations of implementing this Act. He said that master trainers must thoroughly understand the provisions and rules under this Act so that they can facilitate forest dwellers and tribals in getting their rights. He threw light in detail over the rights.

Commissioner Tribal Welfare Jaideep Govind also threw light on Forest Rights Act and purpose of training. He told the master trainers to imbibe the training well so that they can train nodal officers in their districts properly.

Director Tribal Regional Schemes Ms Rashmi Arun Shami, through a presentation, made the master trainers understand the ramifications of Forest Rights Act.

The master trainers also took part in the programme enthusiastically and posed many questions to understand the laws and rules clearly.

It may be mentioned that information about Forest Rights Act would be disseminated at village level meetings beginning from January 26.

Now training programme would be organised on January 16, 2008 for master trainers of Jabalpur and Rewa divisions at Rewa. For the master trainers of Indore and Ujjain divisions would be organised on January 17 at Indore and for Gwalior and Chambal divisions' master trainers, training programme would be organised on January 18, 2008 at Gwalior divisional headquarters.

Those present at the training programme included Deputy Secretary Forest Sukhvir Singh, Additional Director Tribal Regional Development Schemes AK Upadhyaya, Chief Forest Conservator JP Sharma and other departmental officers.