labourers engaged in tendupatta collection in Chhattisgarh will be provided wages at the rate of Rs 2500 per standard bag, officials informed.
This year collection of 16.72 lakh standard bags of tendupatta is estimated.
Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Cooperative Societies ensures tendupatta collection through 916 primary forest produce cooperative societies of the state, which provides seasonal employment to 13.5 lakh forest dweller families every year in summer.
The State Government has increased the wage rates for the labourers engaged in tendupatta collection from time-to-time, which has helped them earn a better income.
In year 2015, tendupatta labourers were provided Rs 1200 per standard bag as wages. In year 2016, this wage rate was increased to Rs 1500.
Recently, the wage rate for tendupatta labourers has been increased by Rs 1000, and last year an amount of Rs 307.80 crore was distributed as wages to the tendupatta collectors of the state, officials informed.
Before year 2008, 70 per cent of the total profit earned from tendupatta sale was distributed to the labourers as bonus, but now they get 80% of the total profit. In year 2003, Rs 33.18 crore was distributed as bonus to tendupatta labourers, where as in year 2016 the bonus amount distributed to the labourer was Rs 274.54 crore, he said.
Keeping in view the difficulties faced by the tendupatta labourers, State Government is distributing suitable footwear to the labourers since year 2006-2007. Till year 2016-17, 136.98 lakh pairs of footwear were distributed. Various insurance schemes are also being conducted in the state to provide financial security to the families of tendupatta labourers.