GOVERNMENT OF TAMILNADU

ABSTRACT

FORESTS - Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund(OECF) Japan assisted TamilNadu

Afforestation Project(TAP) - Implementation of the project from 1997-98 - Draft Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) to be entered into between the Forest Department and Village Forest
Council - Approved - Orders _ Issued

ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (FR.VI) DEPARTMENT

G.O.Ms.No.343 Dated:8-8-1997.
Read:-

From the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Chennai,

Lr.No.VSI(1) / 22442 / 97, Dt. 8.5.97 and 30.5.97.
-:o:0:o:-

ORDER:-
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, in his letters read above, has sent a draft
Memorandum of Understanding for approval of the Government to be entered into between the
Forest Department and Village Forest Council for implementation of the "Tamil Nadu
Afforestation Project" through Joint Forest Management concept and formulation of Village
Forest Councils to involve the local people fully in the tree growing activities in degraded forests,
Government lands, community and individual lands, as per the norms approved by the Government
of India/Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund Mission.
2. The Government have examined the Memorandum of Understanding carefully
and have decided to accept them with slight modifications. The Memorandum of Understanding
both in English as well as in Tamil, as approved by the Government are appended to this order.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests is requested to take action to constitute Village Forest
Council in every programme village and to create awareness among the local villagers regarding the
significance of the programmes, objectives of the project and mode of implementation, as per the
approved Memorandum of Understanding.
3. This order issues with the concurrence of Finance Department vide its
U.O.No.3262/FS/P/97 Dated.14.7.97.

(BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR)

K.S. SRIPATHI,
SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT.

/ true copy /
To
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Chennai-15 (W.E)
 -:2:-

The Chief Conservator of Forests(Planning & Development) / (Wildlife) / (Social Forestry) /

(Territorial) / Research / TAP, Chennai-15.
The Accountant General, TamilNadu, Chennai-18/35 (BNC)
The Pay and Accounts Officer, Chennai-9/35 (BNC)
The Commissioner, Government Date Centre, Chennai-25.

Copy to
All members of the Empowered Committee.
The Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests,
Parayavaran Bhavan, C.G.O.Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi-110 001.
The Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Finance,
Department of Economic Affairs, Paryavaran Bhavan,
C.G.O.Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi-110 001.
The Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund (OECF),
2nd Floor, D.L.F. Centre, Sansad Marg, New Delhi.
The Special Commissioner and Commissioner for Revenue
Administration/Land Administration, Chepauk, Chennai-15.
The Special Secretary to Hon'ble Chief Minister, Chennai-9.
The Senior P.A. to Hon'ble Minister for Forests and Printing, Chennai -9.
The Revenue Department, Chennai-9.
The Rural Development Department, Chennai-9.
The Finance (AH&F)/(EAP) Department, Chennai-9.
The Information and Tourism Department, Chennai-9.

//Forwarded - By Order//

sd/ x x x
SECTION OFFICER.
 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN THE FOREST
DEPARTMENT AND THE VILLAGE FOREST COUNCIL (VFC) ..................
VILLAGE FOR TAMIL NADU AFFORESTATION PROJECT
IMPLEMENTATION.

(as amended as on 01.08.2005

Vide: 1. Govt. Lr. No. 10960/FR.6/99-2 E&F dt. 12.10.1999
2. Govt. Lr. No. 11113/FR.6/99-1, E&F dt. 03.04.2000)

1. PARTIES:

The following MOU is entered between the two parties viz. Forest Department and the
Village Forest Council (VFC) ............... village.

a) FIRST PARTY:

Tamil Nadu Forest Department represented by the District/Divisionsl Forest Officer

................... division of .................. circle and his successor in office having the office at
........................

b) SECOND PARTY:

Represented by the President of the Village Forest Council (VFC) ................... village and
his successor in office having the address .........................

2. OBJECTIVES:
The MOU is signed on .................... with the following objectives:

i) To evolve an effective Joint Forest Management (JFM) system with local communities by
the Tamil Nadu Forest Department through Village Forest Council (VFC).

ii) To conserve and develop natural forests with the vast variety of flora and fauna in and
around the ............. village (management unit) through Village Forest Council (VFC).

iii) To involve local people through Village Forest Council (VFC) in planning, planting,
protection, harvesting, managing and benefit sharing in management unit with focus on degraded
forests.

iv) Creating public awareness in the management unit for better rapport and motivation
towards JFM through Village Forest Council (V.F.C).

v) Providing incentives for tree cultivation in private lands in the management unit.

vi) Promoting home stead, farm stead and community planting through Village Forest
Council (VFC) to increase the green cover of the State besides improving people's life support and
environment.

vii) To ensure flow of employment generation and benefits to local people living in the
management unit.

3. THE AREA OF OPERATION/STATUS:

a) (The map of the management unit comprising programme village/villages including

Reserved Forests, Reserve Land, patta and community lands, clearly demarcating each, should be
furnished at this para).

b) Extent of the management unit

Reserve Forest ............... ha.
Reserve Lands ............... ha.
Community Lands ................ ha.
Patta lands .................ha.

c) Boundaries of the management unit to be specified

North Boundary .....................
South Boundary .....................
East Boundary ....................
West Boundary ...................

4. ORGANISATION AND ACTIVITIES:

Each management unit will have a Village Forest Council and both the parties agree to

abide by the guidelines for implementation of J.F.M. in Tamil Nadu as approved by the
Government of Tamil Nadu in G.O.Ms.No. ....... E & F dept. dt. .97. These guidelines are

appended in this MOU as Annexure which will form part and parcel of this MOU (both President
of VFC and DFO should affix their signature in the Annexure as a token of their agreement).

5. RESPONSIBILITY AND ROLE OF THE FOREST DEPARTMENT:

i) To utilise the co-operation of Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs) and the local

community to the best advantage in involving an effective Joint Forest Management (JFM)
technique in the management unit (programme village/villages).

ii) To conduct PRA exercises in the programme village and create awareness among people
regarding forests, ecology and environment.

iii) To provide technical guidance and advise the local community in the implementation of
Tamil Nadu Afforestation Project.

iv) The Forest Ranger (Member Secretary of VFC) will prepare the Micro Plan with the
advice of the VFC and get the approval from the District/Divisional Forest Officer concerned. The
required funds will be released for the various works prescribed in the Micro Plan.

v) To exercise disciplinary control over Member Secretary of Executive Committee:-

Any misconduct, financial or otherwise, on the part of Member Secretary will be dealt with under
Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) ............ Rules. Appropriate action will be taken
immediately against the Member-Secretary, by the District/Divisional Forest Officer, if any
irregularity in execution of work, both in quality and quantity, is brought to his notice.

vi) The concerned District/Divisional Forest Officer will frequently inspect the works
executed by the Member Secretary and ensure correctness of the quantity and quality of works. The
concerned District/Divisional Forest Officer will also checkmeasure the works of Member
Secretary as per the norms of the Forest Department. Superchecking of works executed by Member
Secretary will be done by Conservator of Forests as per norms of Forest department.

vii) The District/Divisional Forest Officer will closely monitor the involvement and the
co-operation of the VFC in executing the TAP works and orient them in the proper way. He will
also send a monthly report in this regard to the Conservator of Forests.

viii) The District/Divisional Forest Officer shall have the authority to disband the
committees which are not discharing their duties properly. He will do so only after giving adequate
opportunities to the committee members.

ix) The District/Divisional Forest Officer will also lend his advice in the use of the Reserve
Fund.

x) The District/Divisional Forest Officer will also be appellate authority against the orders
of the E.C. expelling a member of EC/VFC.

6. RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE OF THE VILLAGE FOREST COUNCIL:

i) To extend co-operation to the Forest Department in evolving an effective Joint Forest

Management (JFM) for the management unit with active participation of the local community.

ii) To actively participate in the afforestation activities by arranging required laborers and
protecting the afforested area from cattle grazing, illicit cuttings, forest fire etc.,

iii) To abide by the guidelines for implementation of JFM in Tamil Nadu as approved by
Government of Tamil Nadu in G.O.Ms.No. ........ E & F dept., dated .97.

iv) To agree to transfer unspent amount at the close of the financial year to the Forest
department account.

v) To agree to produce accounts, vouchers for audit to an officer not below the rank of
District Forest Officer or a representative of Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund (O.E.C.F.)
Japan.

vi) Members of VFC/E.C. are free to bring to the notice of its President or the District
Forest Officer, any irregularity in the execution of works, who will take immediate remedial
measures.

vii) The VFC shall have the power to expel the members of VFC/EC if the member is found
to be erring from his responsibilities.

viii) The VFC will decide about the sharing of benefits.

ix) The VFC will arrive at a consensus in the utilisation of Reserve Fund for the benefits of
the village. It will send the accounts to the District Forest Officer.

x) The VFC will convene the General Body meeting once in three months and the
members will be informed about the performances of the VFC.

(xi) Every Village Forest Council immediately after its constitution, shall register its name
with the Chief Conservator of Forests (Tamilnadu Afforestation Project), after being a non-
refundable fee of Rs.10/- (Rupees ten only), before undertaking works on Tamilnadu Afforestation
Project. The Village Forest Councils already constituted shall also register their names with Chief
Conservator of Forests (Tamilnadu Afforestation Project) accordingly.

(Para 6(xi) added vide Govt. Lr. No. 10960/FR-6/99-2, dt. 12.10.1999 and Principal Chief conservator of Forests
Ref. No. TAP1/24865/99)
7. PERIOD OF AGREEMENT:

This agreement will be in force for a period of ten years or till the end of the project period.

(Para 7 amended vide Govt. Lr. No. 11113/FR-6/99-1 dt. 03.04.2000 and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests
ref. No. TAP1/24976/99)

8. IMMUNITY OF BIRTH CIVIL AND CRIMINAL ACTS:

If one party commits any criminal misconduct or tort, that party alone will be liable for such
acts and other party will be totally immune from the liability.

9. ABOUT TO SUE OR TO BE SUED:

In the event of any litigation arising from third parties, the Member Secretary is empowered
to sue on behalf of both parties and can be sued by third parties and the legal expenses will be borne
from the Reserve Fund.
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