Odisha CM announces special package for Kendu leaf pluckers

CM Patnaik said ₹1,000 will be given to each plucker and ₹1,500 to each seasonal staff and binders in the first phase

Published on: Nov 24, 2022, 08:56:21 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday announced a special package for the welfare of 8 lakh Kendu leaf pluckers and other persons engaged in the trade.

Odisha is the third largest producer of Kendu leaf next to MP and Chhattisgarh. (HT Photo)

This development comes in the wake of the upcoming assembly bypoll in Padampur of Bargarh district next month.

Patnaik said ₹1,000 will be given to each plucker and ₹1,500 to each seasonal staff and binders in the first phase.

Also Read: 10 smugglers arrested with Kendu leaves worth ₹50 lakhs in Bihar

“All Kendu leaf pluckers and employees will be issued identity cards and included in Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana. Stipend will be given to the children of Kendu leaf pluckers and other employees. Besides, meritorious students will be awarded at the district level. Gratuity payment for circle and binding checkers will be increased from seven days to 15 days,” said Patnaik, adding that Odisha is the first state in the country to give bonus to kendu leaf pluckers.

Patnaik said Centre has imposed 18% GST on Kendu leaf business which is hurting the interest of kendu leaf pluckers.

“I had earlier requested the central government to remove GST from Kendu leaf business and I am again raising my demand to completely abolish GST system from the business,” he said.

Odisha is the third largest producer of Kendu leaf next to MP and Chhattisgarh and produces about 20% of the countries annual production.

At least 18 of the 30 districts including Bargarh, Bolangir, Sundargarh, Angul, Deogarh, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Malkanagri, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Sambalpur have maximum kendu leaf growing areas.

One of the most important non-wood forest products of Odisha, leaves are used for wrapping Bidis.

The state forest department controls the trade through Orissa Kendu Leaves (Control of Trade) Rules, 1962 and Orissa Kendu Leaves (Control of Trade) Act, 1961.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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