Tendupatta collection work has started in Chhattisgarh this year, with a collection target of 16,71,000 standard sacks.
All the necessary preparation for systematic collection of tendupatta in the state has been made, an official communication said on Sunday.
It is noteworthy that Rs 4,000 per standard sack has been decided to be the wage rate for tendupatta collection in 2021.
Nearly 13 lakh tribal and forest dweller tendupatta collector families in Chhattisgarh will directly benefit from tendupatta collection.
In this collection season, Rs 668 crores will be distributed as wages to the collectors in May and June.
Officials have been asked to ensure compliance to Covid-19 guidelines during the collection of minor forest produce.
According to Sanjay Shukla, Managing Director of the State Minor Forest Produce Federation, presently Tendupatta collection work is going on under Dantewada and Sukma Forest Divisions.
Tendupatta collection in all 31 district unions will start by the first week of May.
The District Unions where maximum quantity of tendupatta collection is expected include Balrampur, Sukma, Jagdalpur, Keshkal, South Kondagaon and West Bhanuprattappur.