Despite the Covid adversities, the State Government has been able to provide employment to around eight lakh people through Kendu leaf operations.
Beating the adverse weather conditions in February and March along with Covid restrictions, the operations are set to generate a trade surplus of Rs 100 crore during the current year. This was known from State level Coordination Meeting held under chairmanship of Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy wherein Additional Chief Secretary Forest and Environment Dr Mona Sharma outlined the issues for discussion. Reviewing different facets of kndu leaf operation, Tripathy directed to do more bush cutting in convergence with MGNREGS.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Kendu Leaf) Pravakara Behera said, “A total of 7,54,631 pluckers and 18, 223 binders were engaged in the work among whom nearly 80% were women.” Besides, 16,533 seasonal staffs were engaged in the operations. Bush cutting was done in 5.37 lakh hectares.Dr Sharma apprised that procurement of Kendu leaves was taken up during April-May and near about 2 lakh quintals of leaves of worth about Rs 119.57 crore were procured from the pluckers. The total sale value of the leaves procured during 2019 was around Rs 377 crore against which the sale value till end of November this year has reached Rs 321 crore.
PCCF Behera appraised that the investment against the operations till end of November was around Rs 266 crore, which might increase by another Rs 50 crore at the trade closing.
The entire operation might yield the trade surplus of about Rs 100 crore.