Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Chhattisgarh registers the largest participation in minor forest produce collection during the lockdown
Chhattisgarh is the leading state in terms of preserving forests. During the pandemic induced lockdown, the state has achieved a lot in the sector under the leadership of its Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. It has made the highest contribution in terms of minor forest produce collection during lockdown. Forest dwellers may earn annual income of upto Rs 2500 crore from forest produce collection. According to the data received from TRIFED, nearly 4,76,000 quintals of forest produce worth Rs 112 crore has been collected in the state till July month this year. While the pandemic hampered the economy across the world, tribal people in the state not only earned livelihood by collecting forest produce but also boosted the growth of state’s economy.
While the closure of factories during lockdown worsened the problem of unemployment across the world, forest dwellers in the state are getting employment even during this time of crisis through forest produce and herbal medicine collection. New economic strategies of Chhattisgarh Government are transforming lives of people in the state. Every year nearly 15 lakh sacks of tendupatta are collected in the state, which provides employment to 12,65,000 tendupatta collector families. State Government has increased the wage rate for tendupatta collection to Rs 4000 per sack, which has turned out be a direct benefit of Rs 649 crore for the labourers. The number of forest produce procured by State Government at minimum support price has been increased from seven to 38.
Keeping in view the interest of forest dwellers in the state, the support price of Mahua was increased from Rs 17 to 30 per kg. The forest produce is being procured through 866 Haat Bazaars. Employment of 10 lakh man-days of is being created in the state through wood art development, lac bangles manufacturing, double-stone construction, drug processing, city processing, bell metal, terracotta handicrafts work etc. About 14,000 youths are provided employment through the Forest Development Corporation, construction of bamboo tree guards, bamboo furniture manufacturing, planting of medicinal plants under Vanaushadhi Board, etc. Similarly, production of Mahua based energy bar, chocolate, pickle, sanitiser, amla based dehydrated products etc. is being planned with the help of CFTRI Mysore. This will provide employment to more than 5,000 families.
Income of forest dwellers in the state is increasing. Tea plantations in Jashpur and Surguja districts directly benefit the beneficiaries. During the COVID crisis, 1,000 women got employment for manufacturing 50 lakh masks. In the current year, about 12,000 women have received an additional income of Rs 3,23,00000 from primary processing of tamarind. In order to increase the income of the forest dwellers, 18,56,000 fruitful and beneficial plant species were planted on the private land of 10,497 forest dwellers in 2019. To promote lac production, 36,000 farmers have been selected in 164 production areas. About 12,000 quintal vermi compost is being produced every year by 800 beneficiaries. Employment of 30 lakh man-days is being generated through activities like ground water conservation, degradation of degraded forests, wells, etc. About 50 lakh man-days of employment are available under the Narva Development Programme under Campa. More than 7,000 tribal youths have got employment through Avarti Charai Yojana, production of organic manure, seed-fertiliser etc.