With an aim to provide jobs to rural youth, the Rural Development Ministry is kicking off a Public Private Partnership initiative for value addition in non-timber forest produce in 60 Naxal-affected districts of Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

“The projects in lac, gum, medicinal plants, tasar, bamboo and non-edible oil seeds like neem and mahua will maximise the return for the tribal engaged in collection of these forest products,” said Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh at an event on Friday.

The projects to be launched within next six months will be part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission, the Minister said adding that it will focus primarily on livelihood generation and value additional in the non-timber forest products in Naxal-affected areas.

Ramesh also said that his Ministry will also explore whether MGNREGA can be used as a convergence in the implementation of the projects.