The State Government have clarified that under the Afforestation Project being implemented with the World Bank assistance in Madhya Pradesh no forest dweller was being displaced. Despite this, a few organisations and individuals were resorting to misleading propaganda in this regard. Afforestation project is an ambitious programme for forest development along with developing resources in rural areas through joint forest management. In accordance with the concept of the joint forest management, over ten thousand village forest and forest protection committees have been constituted in Madhya Pradesh. These committees are effectively engaged in protection of forest. Resources are being developed with the funds made available for these forest committees by the department.