FAQ for the Tripura JICA Project

1) What is JICA project?

The Tripura JICA project is an externally aided project for improving the quality & density of forest resources together with improvement of the livelihood opportunities of the tribal population and rural poor who live in and around the forests of the state. The name of the Project is actually the Tripura Forest Environmental Improvement & Poverty Alleviation Project (TFIPAP) but in common parlance it is called the Tripura JICA Project.Conservation of biodiversity resources and improvement of soil moisture regime are the other two points of the Project.

2) What are the aims and objectives of the project?

The aims and objectives of the project are to restore degraded forest land and to improve the livelihood opportunities of the tribal population and rural poor who are dependant on the natural resources and are engaged in traditional shifting cultivation for their sustenance.

3) How can one improve environment and alleviate poverty through this project?

It aims to rehabilitate the degraded forest land, shifting cultivation areas into ecologically and commercially productive forests and it also aims to improve the quality of life of the local people, who in a body signed an instrument, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for protection and regeneration of the forest wealth of the state by way of afforestation in the degraded forest areas through formation of 456 JFM committees, by way of creating check dams for conservation of soil and water and taking up of pisciculture and other income generating activities.
It is entirely a land-based project and does not involve procurement of goods and services. The project therefore aims at increasing the production, enhancing the productivity, development of opportunities for generation of employment and income in rural areas where it is needed most, and shall have substantial tangible and intangible benefits and above all shall favor the well being of the state.
The project also does not envisage any dislodging or ousting or even shifting of an inhabitant rather it would be implemented for economic upliftment of the people in situ. The project on completion shall definitely enrich the ground water table of all the river system by recharging the water in the catchments of the rivers.

4) When did Tripura JICA project come into force?

The agreement for the Project was signed in New Delhi on the December 5th 2006 and was ceremonially launched at Agartala by the Hon’ble Chief Minister on the 19th of November, 2007.
5) Who are covered under this project and what is the project area?
The scheduled tribe population and the rural poor who live in and around of the forest areas of the Project (identified 7023 km2) are the target group of people and Joint Forest Management Committees shall be formed with the people for implementation of the Project.

6) What is PMU and what are the powers and functions of PMU?

Project Management Unit (PMU) is the critical body formed in the Project which is essentially a registered Society for day to day execution of the Project components. It is housed in Aranya Bhawan at Pt. Nehru Complex Agartala 799006. The PMU is headed by the Chief Executive Officer & Project Director. And it has 3 Directorates to take care of the Planning & implementation, Administration & Finance and Monitoring & Evaluation of the Project. The PMU is empowered to issue technical and financial sanction for approved project activities and it has an another entity in the form of Circle Level Extension. The Territorial Conservator of Forests (Northern Circle and Southern Circle) will be members of this unit.
The major functions of PMU are the following,

a) To appoint Expert to formulate operation manuals and guidelines/handbook etc.
b) To plan, manage, implement & monitor the activities of the Project including consultancy services.
c) To submit the progress report to JICA as stipulated in the loan agreement.
d) To submit the claims for reimbursement to JICA and obtain disbursement for the funds utilized in the Project.
e) To manage the recruitment of the required staff for the Project.

7) What is the role of Central and State Governments in this project?

The Central government (Ministry of Environment & Forests) is a joint signatory and 85% of the project cost is borne by the Central Government and 15% of the project cost is the contribution of the state government towards the project. The loan bears simple interest @ 0.75% to be paid back in a span of 40 years with a moratorium of 10 years.

8) What is special about the JICA Project?

This is the first externally aided project sanctioned for development of the natural resources along with livelihoods of the people who live in and around the forest areas in any of the NE states.

9) What is the NTFP Centre for excellence?

The NTFP Center of Excellence is a Directorate constituted in the Project for promotion of Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) resources of the state by way of harnessing the skill of the people in utilization of the resources thereby creating job opportunities of the people of the state. Its main objective is conservation and development of the Non Timber Forest Produces of the State.
10) Which country has been providing financial support to this project?
The Government of Japan through its funding agency, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

11) How do poor and especially forest-people are benefited through this Project?

The Tripura Forest Department (TFD) is one of the pioneers in formulating and implementing the concept of the Joint Forest Management for the conservation and development of its natural resources and it is the central theme of all forestry activities of the state. The concept of “Care, Share and Prosper” of the JFM mechanism is also core in the project. 456 new JFMCs shall be constituted in association with the people and 1950 Self help groups (SHGs) shall be formed for achieving the goal.
The JFMCs shall be evolved with the help of forest dependant communities and project components shall be carried forward within the timeline fixed for the purpose. There shall be one Livelihood Coordinator, one Community Organizer for each of the 40 Range Management Units (RMU) and in addition 456 Field Facilitators as members of the Income generating Activities(IGA) support team for smooth & effective implementation of the Project. Thus the poor and forest dependant people shall be benefited.

12) What is the most important feature of this project?

The Tripura JICA Project not only takes care of the forestry sector but also addresses the inter-sectoral linkages for alleviation of poverty of the forest dependant communities through various income generating activities.

13) How can JICA Project help me individually?

An individual living in the project area can take part in the project by enlisting him/her as a member of the JFMC. There are IGA support team members who are trained to guide an individual aspirant in this participatory project activity.

14) Where do I submit the RTI – application for information on Tripura JICA project?

The SPIO of the Tripura JICA Project can be approached. The website, www.tripurajbic.com or the www.tripurajica.com may be visited for the answers.