Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has urged Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda to give immediate approval to proposals worth Rs 234 crores for minor forest produce based development.
In a letter, Baghel said that 44 percent of the geographical area in Chhattisgarh is covered by forests and 31.80 percent of its population belongs to the tribal community.
In 2020-21,minor forest produce worth Rs 115 crores have been so far procured at minimum support price.
Also in 2020-21, Chhattisgarh came on top in the country by collecting 72.5 percent of the total minor forest produce. Similarly, under Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana, 139 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras have been set up and more than 120 herbal products are made and sold under the brand 'Chhattisgarh Herbals'.
Chhattisgarh has sent proposals for minor forest produce based development to benefit the forest dwellers. These include Rs 100 crores as working capital to collect minor forest produce and reimbursement of business losses incurred under Minimum Support Price scheme.