Why is it in the news?
- Union Minister launches National Transit Pass System (NTPS)-One Nation-One Pass.
More about the news
- Launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- Facilitates seamless transit of timber, bamboo, and Minor Forest Produce (MFP) across India.
- Replaces state-specific transit rules for timber and forest produce.
Key Features of NTPS
- Manages records for both inter-state and intra-state transportation of timber, bamboo, and MFP.
- Exempts some species grown on private land; No Objection Certificate required for transport.
- Contributes to ease of doing business with a unified online mode for transit permits.
- Benefits includes: Boosts the agroforestry sector; saves transportation costs and time; and enables seamless movement across state borders.
- Under Forests Rights Act 2006, MFP includes non-timber forest produce like bamboo, brushwood, stumps, etc.
- Forest dwellers have legal ownership and governance rights over MFP through the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act, 1996, and FRA, 2006.
| Other Initiatives Promoting Forest Produce and MFP
· Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana: Focuses on developing value chains for forest-based products. Aims to enhance the income of tribal communities. · Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme: Voluntary third-party certification for promoting sustainable forest management and agroforestry. · Mechanism for Marketing of MFP through MSP & Value Chain Development: Establishes a mechanism for marketing Minor Forest Produce through Minimum Support Price (MSP). Aims to develop value chains for sustainable utilization of forest resources. ·Top of Form
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