For the first time in the State, tendupatta collectors will get bonus worth Rs 244.55 crore. It is 148.90 per cent more than bonus worth Rs 98.25 crore distributed to them during collection year 2012. Forest Minister Shri Sartaj Singh inaugurated bonus distribution from villages Sukhatwa and Bhadgada in Hoshangabad district by distribution Rs 17.88 lakh bonus to 803 tendupatta collectors.
Sartaj Singh informed that Madhya Pradesh was the first State of the country, which has introduced the system of providing entire net profit from minor produce proceeds to primary cooperative forest produce societies.
A number of policy decisions have been taken to provide proper profit to villagers from business of minor forest produce. In the collection year 2004, it was decided to provide 60 per cent of net profit as cash incentives while 20 per cent was invested on re-generation of forests and remaining amount was spent on basic amenities of villages as per cooperative societies’ discretion.
Since year 2011, net profit’s 70 per cent is being paid as cash incentive to collectors in ratio of quantum of their collection.
Besides, 15 per cent is being invested on re-generation of villages and remaining amount is being spent on basic amenities in villages by cooperative societies as per directives of laghu Vanopaj Sangh. During year 2012, 26.6 lakh standard bags of tendupatta were stored in godowns. For this, tendupatta collectors were provided Rs 195.45 crore bonus at the rate of Rs 750 per standard bag. Since year 2013, per standard bag collection rate of tendupatta has been increased to Rs 950.