Tripura’s SCATFORM Project Lauded by JICA India During Official Visit

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, July 12, 2025

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) India Mission has concluded its three-day official visit to Tripura with high praise for the state’s implementation of the SCATFORM Project. The delegation, comprising Ms. ISHIKAWA Saya (Representative), Ms. Nishtha Vengurlekar (Development Specialist), and Ms. Annie Srivastava (Project Officer), reviewed progress from 8th to 11th July 2025.

The team visited key intervention sites in Gomati District and Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary, inspecting plantation activities, check dams, agroforestry models, and livelihood programs under SCATFORM. A special highlight was the inspection of an ecotourism project by Tripura Nature Trails and Resorts Limited, a sustainable tourism initiative supported by SCATFORM.

In their field visits, the delegation engaged directly with Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs), appreciating the strong role of community participation in forest and biodiversity conservation.

The mission also met with Forest Minister Shri Animesh Debbarma to discuss livelihood development and model village strategies. JICA reaffirmed its commitment to support the state with continued technical and financial aid.

The visit concluded with a debriefing session led by Shri R. K. Samal, Principal Secretary and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force, where the JICA team commended the state’s efforts toward ecological restoration and sustainable development.

To date, the SCATFORM Project in Tripura has received Rs.275.53 crores as a loan from JICA and recorded financial progress of Rs. 338.20 crores, demonstrating effective implementation and robust convergence efforts by the state.

The SCATFORM Project, supported by Japan, focuses on sustainable forest and biodiversity management while improving the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities across Tripura.

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