JICA hails women-led forest revival

A delegation from JICA India visited Behandhar village in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district yesterday to conduct a mid-term review of the JICA Forestry Project, which has been underway in the state since 2018 and is scheduled to continue until 2028.

Led by Vineet Sareen, Chief of Development Operations at JICA India, the team assessed ongoing forestry initiatives and commended the region’s progress. Sareen interacted with members of the Village Forest Development Committees (VFDCs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs), praising the participation of local women. “The hardworking women here are truly becoming symbols of empowerment,” he said.

The JICA-supported project is working with 460 VFDCs and 920 SHGs across the state, focusing on enhancing livelihoods, promoting women’s empowerment and managing forest ecosystems. The delegation toured a leaf-plate making workshop in Behandhar and applauded the efforts of SHG members engaged in sustainable income-generating activities.

JICA India project formulation advisor Yukari Inagaki spoke as well.