Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced an assistance of Rs 111 crore in the second phase for the kendu leaf workers.
This assistance would be for the 2022 crop year. In the first phase, assistance worth Rs 83 crore was directly deposited in the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
In the two phases, kendu leaf workers would get assistance of Rs 194 crore, which is an all-time record in a single crop year.
The Government’s announcement would benefit over 8 lakh kendu leaf workers. About 7.75 lakh kendu leaf pluckers and 40,000 regular and seasonal workers (binders) will get the assistance.
Each kendu leaf plucker would get financial assistance of Rs 1,000 along with Rs 2,000 and Rs 160 for water bottles and sandals respectively. Similarly, Rs 1,500 will be given as financial assistance to each kendu leaf regular and seasonal worker.
Beneficiaries of all the 22 districts, except Jharsuguda, where kendu leaves are collected, will get this assistance. The beneficiaries of Jharsuguda would get this assistance after the election model code of conduct ends.
Notably, financial assistance of Rs 83 crore had been provided to the beneficiaries in the first phase. This announcement would help in improving the standard of living of kendu leaf workers, who are mainly from the ST and SC communities.