Pravir Krishna

Quite an eye-opener, this account of the nurturing, by the author as an IAS officer in Chhattisgarh (India), of tribal handicrafts and non-timber forest produce (NTFP, previously relegated as minor forest produce, MFP) under the umbrella of TRIFED, the Tribal Federation (of collector's cooperatives or self-help groups) and the newer schemes of Van Dhan ('Forest Wealth') impresses by its sense of zealous commitment, wealth of ideas, and sheer know-how and know-when as marks of administrative competence. The achievement is all the more praise-worthy, as such schemes involving support prices (here kept above the price offered by local market agents) and state 'procurement' often lead to misappropriation, damaged goods, write-offs and losses, and scandal and ignominy. This may be required reading for all administrative and forest probationers in the country.… (mehr)