Forest dweller families engaged in collection of minor forest produce ‘Harra’ (Terminalia chebula) will now receive an extra Rs 350 per quintal on procurement compared to last year, officials informed.
The Central Government has hiked the support price of ‘Harra’, the forest produce with medicinal quality to Rs 11 per kg (Rs 1,100 per quintal). Chief Minister Raman Singh has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central Government for the decision. The Chief Minister took information in the context from Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand and Senior forest officials at the Mantralaya.
Singh said that the State Government has decided to procure the minor forest produce ‘Harra’ on support price in order to increase the income of scores of forest dweller families in the State. ‘Harra’ will be procured at support price in all the procurement centres of 915 primary forest produce cooperative societies of State, he said.
The Chief Minister has directed the officials to ensure that the ‘Harra’ collector families receive the hiked support price against procurement. He has also insisted that in no case, the procurement of ‘Harra’ should be done on price below the minimum support price. Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Association officials informed that inflow of ‘Harra’ is expected to begin from Deepawali that will go on till the month of January-February next year.
The Chief Minister informed the officials that last year, the minimum support price of ‘Harra’ in the State was Rs 7.50 per kg i.e, Rs 750 per quintal but now the Centre has increased the minimum support price to Rs 11 per kg i.e, Rs 1,100 per quintal. The Chief Minister has directed all the officials to ensure that people are made aware about the hike in support price through gram panchayats.
The panchayats should advise the villagers to not to sell ‘Harra’ on price below the minimum support price. Singh said that in no case, the ‘Harra’ stock from other States shall be procured. The Chief Minister has strictly directed the officials to ensure that the ‘Harra’ stock is procured from forest dweller collectors only and not the fake beneficiaries, who hoard ‘Harra’ from villagers at low price and then sell it to the Government at support price.
The Forest, Police and District Administration officials have been dirrected to keep a check on the entire procurement process, with mutual coordination. The district collectors should constitute flying squads for sudden inspection during ‘Harra’ procurement at procurement centres.