The Tendupatta collectors have been collectively assured of an additional income of Rs 204 crore this financial year, officials informed.
The families mostly based in forests will be benefitted immensely soon. About 13.60 lakh bags of Tendupatta had been collected at the 10,265 procurement centres of the 901 Primary Minor Forest Produce Co-Operative Samitis, according to officials of the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce (Commerce and Development) Co-Operative Samiti. The samitis are part of the 31 District Minor Forest Produce Co-Operative Unions.
The members of the
samiti had procured Tendupatta during the two months in summer. There are 1,000 bundles in a bag and each bundle consists of 50 leaves. An amount of Rs 1,500 is paid per bag and the wages will amount to Rs 204 crore.
About Rs 53.12 crore of wages had already been paid to the workers. The State Government had hiked the wages from Rs 1,200 a bag to Rs 1,500 per bag. Apart from this three insurance schemes are operating for the welfare of the workers. The procurement workers will get Rs 72 .68 crore bonus for the year 2014. The talented children of the Tendupatta collectors are given incentive stipends.