The State Government has released the data of the Social Security life Insurance Scheme for the Tendu patta collectors and their family recently, officials stated.
During the initial six months of the scheme of the current financial year, officials stated that the families of 1229 beneficiaries were paid claim amount of Rs 53 lakh while in the last financial year (2014-15), 1026 beneficiaries were paid Rs 87 lakh by September month this year.
The Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Cooperative Association Managing Director Bl Saran said here on Friday that apart from the head of such families, the last member of such family whose age is between18-59 years is also covered in the Social Security life Insurance Scheme.
Under this scheme, the nominee is given Rs 500 rupees on ordinary death, Rs 12,500 on partial disability and Rs 25,000 on accidental death or full disability.
Saran also spoke about the other financial help provided to the Tendu patta collectors and families.
Notably, the State Government has also increased the purchase rate of small forest produce several times during the past 10 years. Mainly Tendu Patta, Saal seed, Harra, Behada, Gond, Chironji, Aonla, Honey and other small forest produce are available in the forests.
To provide rightful price to Tendu Patta collection, the State Government, in the year 2013, has increased its collection price from Rs1,100 to Rs1,200 per standard bag.
As a result, 13.76 lakh families have collected over 14.92 lakh standard bag good quality Tendu Patta in 2014. Rs180 crore has been distributed as wages. Rs310 crore has been given as dividend for the last collection year 2012 and Rs82 crore bonus was distributed to the collectors in the year 2013, officials stated.
Moreover, in order to provide better education to the children of Tendu Patta collector families, the State Government, in the year 2011, started Shiksha Protsahan Yojana. Under this scheme, along with scholarship, Rs25,000 additional amount has been given to the children for study in professional courses like medical, engineering, law and nursing.
From this year, the State Government has decided to give scholarship up to Rs12,000 to the children of Tendu Patta collector families for non-professional graduate level studies. With the cooperation of life Insurance Corporation, insurance of 13.5 lakh Tendu Patta collecting families has been done.