Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Announces Rs 111 Crore Assistance For Kendu Leaf Pluckers

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday announced Rs 111 crore financial assistance for kendu leaf beneficiaries in second phase.

According to a CMO release, more than 8 lakh kendu leaf workers of all the 22 districts except Jharsuguda, where poll code is in force, will get this assistance.

The release further said that each kendu leaf plucker will get financial assistance of Rs 1,000 along with Rs 2,000 and Rs 160 for water bottles and sandals respectively. Similarly, Rs 1,500 will be given as financial assistance to each kendu leaf regular and seasonal worker.

While demanding complete withdrawal of GST on the collection of the leaf, the CM had announced a special special package for the welfare of kendu pluckers and other employees in November last year.

In the first phase, assistance worth Rs 83 crore was directly deposited in the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

Odisha is the third largest producer of Kendu leaf with 20% of the countries annual production. At least 18 districts, including Bargarh, Balangir, Sundargarh, Angul, Deogarh, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Malkanagri, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Sambalpur, have maximum kendu leaf growing areas. An important non-wood forest products, the leaves are used for wrapping Bidis.