Himachal Pradesh Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Forests play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance, conserving biodiversity, protecting water resources, and supporting the livelihoods of rural communities. However, increasing pressure on forest resources and the degradation of forest land have created the need for large-scale afforestation and sustainable forest management. To address these challenges while actively involving local communities in forest conservation, the Government of Himachal Pradesh has launched the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana (RGVSY).

The scheme is a community-based afforestation programme implemented by the Department of Forest, Government of Himachal Pradesh, with financial assistance from the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). Under the scheme, registered Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), including Mahila Mandals, Yuvak Mandals, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs), Village Forest Development Societies (VFDS), and other eligible registered community organizations, are encouraged to undertake plantation and maintenance activities on identified degraded forest land.

Eligible organizations receive financial assistance of up to ₹1.20 lakh per hectare for carrying out plantation work on approved forest areas of up to 5 hectares. In addition to plantation assistance, the scheme provides performance-based annual incentives to encourage the proper maintenance and higher survival rate of planted saplings. The Forest Department also provides technical guidance, plantation planning, monitoring, and geo-tagging support to ensure effective implementation and transparency.

Besides improving forest cover, the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana aims to generate employment opportunities for rural communities, strengthen the rural economy, restore degraded forest ecosystems, promote climate resilience, and encourage long-term community participation in protecting and conserving Himachal Pradesh's natural resources. Through this collaborative approach, the scheme seeks to create sustainable forests while empowering local communities to become active partners in environmental conservation.

Budget Announcement for FY 2026–27

In the Himachal Pradesh Budget 2026–27, the Government announced a major expansion of the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana to increase community participation in afforestation and forest conservation across the state.

The key announcements made under the Budget are as follows:

• Plantation activities will be undertaken on approximately 4,000 hectares of degraded forest land.
• Around 1,100 Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) will be involved in implementing the scheme.
• Out of the total participating groups:
  • 60% will be Mahila Mandals/Women Groups.
  • 20% will be Yuvak Mandals/Youth Groups.
  • 20% will be other Self Help Groups and eligible Community-Based Organizations.
• The State Government has made a budget provision of approximately ₹55 crore for implementing the scheme during the financial year 2026–27.
• About 15,000 women are expected to participate in plantation activities during the year.
• Each participating group will receive ₹1.20 lakh per hectare for carrying out plantation work on 2 to 5 hectares of approved forest land.
• One year after plantation, the Forest Department will assess the survival rate of the planted saplings.
• If the survival rate is more than 50%, the participating group will receive a performance incentive of ₹1 lakh for every 2 hectares of plantation.

Scheme Benefits

The Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana provides financial assistance and technical support to eligible Community-Based Organizations for carrying out plantation and maintenance activities in degraded forest areas. The scheme not only supports afforestation but also promotes sustainable forest management and creates employment opportunities for rural communities.

Under the scheme, eligible organizations can receive the following benefits:

• Financial assistance of up to ₹1.20 lakh per hectare for plantation and related activities.
• Plantation projects can be undertaken on up to 5 hectares of approved degraded forest land.
• Where less than one hectare of suitable land is available, financial assistance is provided on a pro-rata basis according to the approved plantation area.
• Additional performance-based annual incentives are provided to encourage proper maintenance and higher survival of planted saplings.
• Technical guidance, plantation planning, and supervision are provided by the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department. Plantation sites are monitored through geo-tagging and digital monitoring to ensure transparency and proper implementation.
• The scheme creates employment opportunities for local communities through plantation, maintenance, protection, and other related activities.
• Native and suitable tree species are promoted to improve biodiversity, ecological balance, and long-term sustainability.
• Participating organizations are allowed to enjoy benefits from permissible forest produce such as grass, fodder, fallen twigs, and other non-timber forest produce in accordance with applicable forest rules.
• Financial assistance is transferred directly to the bank account of the participating Community-Based Organization after completion of the prescribed procedures.

Financial Assistance under Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana

Under the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana, eligible Community-Based Organizations receive financial assistance for carrying out plantation and maintenance work in approved degraded forest areas. The amount of assistance depends on the approved plantation area and is released in accordance with the scheme guidelines.

Performance-Based Incentive

• In addition to plantation assistance, the scheme provides annual performance-based incentives to participating Community-Based Organizations.
• These incentives are released after the Forest Department verifies the survival rate of the planted saplings and confirms that the plantation has been properly maintained.

Eligible Beneficiaries

The Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana is designed exclusively for registered Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) that are willing to participate in plantation, maintenance, and protection of degraded forest land identified by the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department. The scheme does not provide benefits to individual applicants.

The following organizations are eligible to participate under the scheme:

• Mahila Mandals
• Yuvak Mandals
• Self Help Groups (SHGs)
• Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs)
• Village Forest Development Societies (VFDS)
• Other registered Community-Based Organizations approved by the Forest Department

Note: Individuals, private institutions, or unregistered groups are not eligible to receive benefits under the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana.

Eligibility Requirements

To receive benefits under the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana, the participating Community-Based Organization must fulfill the following conditions:

• The organization must be a registered Community-Based Organization (CBO).
• It should be willing to participate in plantation, maintenance, and protection of the allotted plantation site.
• The organization must have an active bank account in its name for receiving financial assistance.
• Plantation activities must be carried out only on the degraded forest land identified and approved by the Forest Department.
• The organization must follow the plantation plan, technical guidelines, and instructions issued by the Forest Department.
• The organization must maintain the plantation for the period specified under the scheme to qualify for performance-based incentives.
• The organization should cooperate with Forest Department officials during inspection, monitoring, geo-tagging, and verification of plantation activities.

Required Documents

Eligible Community-Based Organizations may be required to submit the following documents during the implementation process:

• Registration certificate of the Community-Based Organization.
• Resolution of the organization authorizing participation in the scheme.
• Identity proof of the authorized office bearer or representative.
• Aadhaar Card of the authorized representative (where required).
• Bank account details of the Community-Based Organization.
• Recent passport-size photograph of the authorized representative.
• Any additional documents or declarations required by the Forest Department.

Note: The official notification does not prescribe a standard application form or a fixed list of mandatory documents. The concerned Forest Division may ask for additional documents during implementation, wherever required.

How to Avail the Benefits of Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana

The Government of Himachal Pradesh has not notified any separate online application portal or public application form for the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana. The scheme is implemented through the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department in collaboration with eligible Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).

Eligible organizations can avail the benefits under the scheme by following the process below:

• Step 1: Ensure Eligibility of the Community-Based Organization (CBO)
• Before participating in the scheme, the Community-Based Organization should fulfill the prescribed eligibility requirements. The organization should:
  • Be a registered Community-Based Organization (CBO).
  • Have a functional bank account in the name of the organization.
  • Maintain a list of office bearers, including the President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
  • Constitute an Executive Committee comprising 3 to 5 members through a formal resolution.
  • Share the details of the Executive Committee with the concerned Range Forest Officer (RFO).
  • After fulfilling these requirements, the eligible Community-Based Organization may coordinate with the concerned Forest Division to participate in the scheme.
• Step 2: Identification of Suitable Plantation Site
  • The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) identifies suitable degraded or blank forest land for plantation. The site is selected based on ecological suitability, community accessibility, and GIS-based assessment.
  • The concerned Community-Based Organization is consulted during site selection, and preference is given to plantation sites located near the participating community for easier maintenance and monitoring.
• Step 3: Preparation of the Site-Specific Plantation Plan
• The Community-Based Organization and the Forest Department jointly prepare a site-specific plantation plan. The plan generally includes:
  • Plantation area.
  • Selection of suitable tree species (with priority to fruit-bearing trees where appropriate).
  • Protection measures such as fencing, fire prevention, and grazing control.
  • Soil and moisture conservation measures.
  • Water availability and irrigation requirements.
  • Plantation maintenance and protection plan.
• Step 4: Approval of the Plantation Plan
  • After the plantation plan is prepared, it is submitted for administrative approval.
  • The Conservator of Forests (CF) examines and approves the site-specific plantation plan.
  • The approved proposals are then forwarded to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF/HoFF) for final approval and allocation of funds.
  • Financial assistance is sanctioned as per the approved plantation area, subject to the scheme norms.

• Step 5: Release of Financial Assistance

  • Once the plantation proposal is approved, financial assistance is released directly to the bank account of the participating Community-Based Organization through electronic transfer.
  • The assistance is released in two installments:

  Installment Amount	Released Whene
  First Installment 50%	After approval of the plantation plan to initiate plantation work.
  Second Installment 50%	After completion of plantation work and verification by the Forest Department.

• Step 6: Plantation and Maintenance
  • After receiving financial assistance, the Community-Based Organization carries out plantation and maintenance activities under the technical guidance of the Forest Department.
  • The organization is responsible for:
  • Carrying out plantation work.
  • Protecting the plantation from grazing, fire, and encroachment.
  • Maintaining the plantation to achieve the required survival rate.
  • Maintaining proper records of plantation activities and expenditure.
  • The Forest Department provides quality planting material, technical guidance, and regular supervision throughout the implementation period.
• Step 7: Monitoring and Verification
• The Forest Department regularly monitors plantation activities through field inspections and digital monitoring.
• Verification includes:
  • Physical inspection by Forest Guards, Range Officers, and Divisional Forest Officers.
  • Geo-tagging and photographic documentation of plantation sites.
  • Verification of plantation progress and survival rate.
  • Review of utilization records and other required documents submitted by the Community-Based Organization.
• Step 8: Release of Performance-Based Incentives
• After completion of one year, the Forest Department evaluates the survival rate of the plantation. Based on the verified survival percentage, eligible Community-Based Organizations receive annual performance-based incentives under the scheme.

• The first incentive is released after the first-year survival assessment, and subsequent incentives are provided annually as per the scheme guidelines.
• Additionally, maintenance support for the 6th and 7th year is provided as per CAMPA norms to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the plantation

Fund Release and Payment Process

Financial assistance under the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana is released to the participating Community-Based Organizations in accordance with the approved plantation plan and the implementation guidelines issued by the Forest Department.

The payment process includes the following stages:

• Financial assistance is sanctioned after approval of the plantation proposal.
• Funds are released directly to the bank account of the participating Community-Based Organization.
• The first installment is released to enable the organization to undertake plantation activities.
• The remaining financial assistance is released as per the approved funding pattern after verifying the progress of plantation work.
• Performance-based annual incentives are released only after the Forest Department verifies the prescribed survival rate of the planted saplings.
• All payments are made through the prescribed government financial system to ensure transparency and accountability.

Monitoring and Verification

The Himachal Pradesh Forest Department is responsible for monitoring and verifying plantation activities carried out under the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana. Regular inspections are conducted to ensure that plantation work is completed according to the approved plan and that the saplings are properly maintained.

The monitoring process includes:

• Periodic field inspections by Forest Department officials.
• Verification of plantation work and maintenance activities.
• Geo-tagging of plantation sites for digital monitoring.
• Assessment of the survival percentage of planted saplings.
• Verification of proper utilization of financial assistance.
• Submission of progress reports by the concerned Forest Division.
• Release of performance-based incentives after successful verification of plantation survival.

Terms and Conditions

Participating Community-Based Organizations must comply with the following terms and conditions while implementing plantation activities under the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana:

• Plantation work shall be carried out only on the forest land identified and approved by the Forest Department.
• Financial assistance must be used only for approved plantation and maintenance activities.
• The participating organization shall maintain the plantation for the period prescribed under the scheme.
• Plantation activities must follow the technical specifications and plantation plan prepared by the Forest Department.
• The organization shall cooperate with Forest Department officials during inspections, geo-tagging, and verification.
• Performance-based incentives shall be released only after satisfactory verification of plantation survival.
• Any violation of the scheme guidelines or misuse of financial assistance may result in appropriate action as decided by the competent authority.

Relevant Links

• Department of Forest, Government of Himachal Pradesh
• Himachal Pradesh Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana details on the portal
• Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana Guidelines

Contact Information

• Himachal Pradesh Forest Department Shimla - 171001 (INDIA)
• Phone: 911772624186, 2623147