Chief Minister Raman Singh on Monday directed the Forest Department officers to insure the workers of Tendu Patta plantations for Rsone lakh each.
The Chief Minister while reviewing the functioning of the Forest Department at the Mantralaya. Singh said that currently, the workers are insured for a nominal amount.
He directed the officials to make afforestation plans on the banks of Shivnath, Arpa and Kharoon rivers. The funds can be utilised from the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds. Singh also ordered for the removal of brick kilns from the banks of various rivers.
He said that brick kilns should be at least 100 metres away from the river banks.
The Chief Minister said that Rs2,713 crore had been deposited under the CAMPA funds at the Centre. A detailed plan on afforestation should be sent to the Centre so that funds can be released and utilised. Singh said that forest-dwellers should be able to derive their livelihood from the forest produce itself.
He stressed upon the need for public participation in afforestation and protecting forests for safeguarding the environment.
The Chief Minister said that bamboo cultivation should be encouraged to boost the income of the rural population. ‘There is a lot of scope for bamboo craft in the country and abroad. Better training should be given to the villagers in bamboo craft. The skilled craftsmen from Assam and Tripura should be called as ‘Master Trainers’ to Chhattisgarh.’
Singh said that Rs88 crore bonus should be disbursed to Tendu Patta collectors through the Primary Forest Produce Co-operative Samitis. He ordered for a detailed plan to be chalked–out.
It was informed in the meeting that in the current year 2014 about 14.28 lakh Tendu Patta bags were procured by the Co-operative societies. An amount of Rs171 crore was disbursed as wages to 18 lakh families. The officers present in the meeting provided detailed presentation of the achievements and various schemes. They said 7,887 ‘Forest Management Committees’ were formed in which 11.185 villages were a part of it. About 27.63 lakh rural folks are its members. There are about 14.36 lakh women members in the committees.
The Forest Management Committees have been accorded the responsibility of protecting 33,190 sq.kms of forest area. Under theJoint Forest Management Scheme , medicinal plants and minor forest produce were planted in 2008-09. Grafted Amla, Harra and Mahuahigh-tech saplings were planted.
The Chief Minister Advisor Shivraj Singh, Chief Secretary Vivek Dand, Principal Secretary, Forest Department RP Mandal , Chief Conservator of Forests, Ramprakash and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
Notably, in August this year, the Chhattisgarh government had announced that the annual trade of small forest produce in Chhattisgarh has now reached an estimated Rs850 crore .
Thanks to sufficient quantity of about 160 varieties of small forest produce available in Chhattisgarh’s forests.
The State Government had also handed over the responsibility of procurement and trade of forest produce to Chhattisgarh State Small Forest Produce Cooperative Federation, hence, on the one hand the role of mediators in the business has ended, on the other, feeling of responsibility has been developed towards its trade and management in the tribal and forest dwellers, officials informed.
The small forest produce is the main source of livelihood of the forest dwellers and the poor families. Keeping this in mind, the State government has made well-founded arrangement for its purchase, trade and processing in the interest of its original collectors.
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 Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,200 per standard bag. As a result, 13.76 lakh families have collected over 14.92 lakh standard bag good quality Tendu Patta in 2014. Rs 180 crore has been distributed as wages. Rs 310 crore has been given as dividend for the last collection year 2012 and Rs 82 crore bonus was distributed to the collectors in the year 2013.
Moreover, in order to provide better education to the children of Tendu Patta collector families, the State government, in the year 2011, has started Shiksha Protsahan Yojana. Under this scheme, along with scholarship, Rs 25,000 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 Rs 12,000 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.