Government Departments

Major Role Functions

1.

Sundarban Affairs Department Sundarban Development Board

• Implementation of Special Area Development Plan

• Co-ordination and integration of plans

• Performance assessment and monitoring

2.

Forest Department

:

• Enforcement of the Indian Forest Act. Forest (Conservation) Act.

• Statutory role for protection of forests and wildlife

A development role for

• Non-Social Afforestation

• Soil Conservation

• Control and improvement in timber yield

3.

Fisheries & Aquaculture Department

:

• Statutory role for conservation of fish species through regulated harvest from the marine sector

• Creation of infrastructure for fishing activities by construction of fish landing centers/jetties minor fishing harbors

• Survey and statistical wing in each districts

• Providing kits/inputs to the fish farmers' cooperatives for improved fish production and improvement in their livelihoods

• Operating ice Plants through BENFISH

• Undertaking skill upgradation and alternative income generation programs

4.

Agriculture Department

:

• Providing information on current agriculture practices

• Schematic implementation of programs through village/block/district level network

• District/block level seed farms

• Sub-divisional laboratories for soil analysis, pest management

• Administering GOI programs (Integrated Cereal Development Programs in all Sundarban blocks)

• Providing services for fertilizer use, soil conservation and improved agriculture practices

5.

Panchayat Department

:

• Statutory role for the 3-tire Panchayat body i.e. Zilla Parishads (district level). Panchayat Samity (Block level) and Gram Panchayat (village level)

• Advisory and recommendatory roles for other departments operating in the region

• Social forestry (Zilla Parishad)

6.

Animal Husbandry Department

:

• Facilitator for providing kits/inputs, schemes for improvement of livestock

7.

Non-Conventional Energy Department (under Dept. of Science and Technology)

:

• Awareness programs in the non-grid power sectors for use of Solar Thermal, Solar Photovoltaic, (SPV) Bio-mass/Bio-gas

• Implementing agency (self) and through subsidized schemes

• Formation of rural co-operatives (WBREDA)

8.

Environment Department

:

• Law enforcement through the State Pollution Control Board

• Regulator for environment management and conservation

• Facilitator for awareness campaigns on conservation and livelihood

• Lead agency for State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

9.

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Department

:

• Development and improvement of the social, cultural and livelihoods of the SC and ST population

• Implementing employment generation schemes, providing financial assistance to the SC & ST community

10.

Tourism Department

:

• Promoting and developing tourism projects

• Conducting regulated tours in the forest and wildlife areas

• Administering and maintaining selected tourism properties at various destinations

11.

Home (Police) Department

:

• Implementation of the legal provisions under the various departments viz. Forest, Fisheries, Environment, etc, and general law and order

12.

Irrigation and Waterways Department

:

• Schemes greater that 2500 ha

• Implementation and maintenance of major river valley projects

• Flood control (flood protective embankment in the Sundarban)

• Drainage (planning, investigation, design, implementation and maintenance)

13.

Water Investigation and Development Department

:

• Local scheme for irrigation less than 2500 ha

• Tube-wells

• Groundwater extraction licensing

Non Governmental Community Institutions and NGOs

1.

Forest Protection Committees (FPC's)

:

• About 23 FPCs with over 9,500 members in S24P district.

• About 10 FPCs with over 3,800 members associated with the reserved forest. Access to usufruct rights only after 5 year of FD approved management and protection input

2.

Eco-development Committees (EDC's)

:

• Fringe community groups around protected areas with no usufruct right but with livelihood improvement programs.

3.

Fishing Communities

:

• Association of fishermen formed around the fishing/fish landing centers/minor fishing harbors (National Fishworkers Forum)

4.

Self Help Groups

:

• Micro-credit and thrift societies that work with groups in local communities