In order to promote export of minor forest produce, tribal dominated districts will soon get the organic certificate. Forest Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Nagar Singh Chauhan gave instructions to complete all requisite formalities for this. The minister also announced that social security has been widened for tendu leaf collectors by including them in Sambal Yojana.
For the economic security of the tribal families involved in tendu leaf collection, the tendu leaf collection rate has been increased from Rs 3000/- per standard bag to Rs 4000 per standard bag. The collection rate in 2003 was only Rs. 400/- per standard bag. As a result of this decision, approximately Rs 560 crore has been distributed to the collectors as remuneration.
Along with the remuneration, the net profit received from the trade of tendu leaves is also shared with the collectors. This dividend has also increased. In 2003, only 50 per cent of the net profit was shared with collectors as bonus, now 75 per cent is being distributed to the collectors as bonus. The amount of bonus distributed in the year 2002-03 was Rs 5.51 crore while the amount of bonus distributed in the year 2022-23 is Rs 234 crore.
Three-tier structure
At present, 38 lakh members of about 15 lakh families are involved in minor forest produce collection work. More than 50 per cent of these belong to the tribal community. To protect them from exploitation by middlemen and to provide them the benefits of their collected minor forest produce, a three-tier structure of cooperative has been created. There are 10 primary forest produce cooperative societies formed at the primary level with the membership of 15.2 lakh collectors. At the second level, there are district level unions in 51 districts and at the top level, Madhya Pradesh. State Minor Forest Produce Federation is functioning at the apex level.
“Eklavya Vanvasi Shiksha Vikas Yojana” started in 2011 for the education of children of tendu leaf workers, more than Rs 14.00 crore has been provided to 15,026 students.
Minor Forest Produce Processing and Research Center Barkheda Pathani was established in the year 2004-05. It has got the license to make 840 medicines based on minor forest produce while 350 medicines are being manufactured.
MSP and more
In order to provide fair price of forest produce to the minor forest produce collectors, the state government has also declared the minimum support price for 32 major minor forest produce so that the collectors can get remunerative price .
To increase the income of minor forest produce collectors, attention is also being given to processing and approval has been given for the establishment of 126 Van Dhan Kendras under the Pradhan Mantri Van Vikas Yojana. Of these, processing of products has also been started by about 70 Van Dhan Kendras.
Under the PESA, 268 gram sabhas in 20 districts and in the collection year 2023-24, 13363 standard bags of tendu leaves were collected generating a business valuing at Rs. 7.19 crore. This year 229 gram sabhas started collecting tendu leaves.
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