The Department of Forest and Climate Change on Wednesday ordered the distribution of incentive wages amounting to Rs 424.11 crores to tendu leave pluckers in Chhattisgarh.
As a part of this, incentive wages amounting to Rs 163.62 crore will be distributed to 9,49,944 pluckers from 733 societies which were profitable in 2021.
Anil Kumar Rai, Managing Director of the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce (Trading & Development) Co-operative Federation Ltd, said for 2022, incentive wages of Rs 260.49 crores will be distributed to 8,61,772 collectors from 661 profitable societies.
The Chhattisgarh government distributes the profit earned from the trade of tendu leaves as incentive wages to tendu leaves pluckers.
Additionally, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has increased the tendu leaf collection rate. Several schemes are being implemented for the welfare of the pluckers.