Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced a welfare package worth Rs 74.78 crore for lakhs of people associated with the kendu leaf sector, including pluckers, binders and seasonal staff.
According to a statement by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), “a welfare package for lakhs of kendu leaf pluckers, binders and seasonal staff. The package includes a 10-paise hike per ‘kerry’ (20 leaves) and a 20-paise hike per ‘phala’ (40 leaves), with the price revision costing the state Rs 10.78 crore.”
The Chief Minister also approved a 25 per cent bonus for kendu leaf pluckers and a five per cent incentive for binders and seasonal staff. The Odisha government will spend Rs 64 crore on these benefits, taking the total financial outlay under the welfare package to Rs 74.78 crore.
Kendu leaves in Odisha are important forest produce and natural resource and play a vital role in the lives of poor people, especially tribal communities of the state. Kendu leaves trade provides employment during the lean summer by generating more than 100 lakh mandays annually, when there is no agricultural work or any other substantial wage-earning opportunity.
Kendu leaves are popularly known as “Green Gold” of Odisha.
(ANI)
