Raipur-About 13 lakh villagers- forest dwellers earned around Rs 883 crore as wages since the year 2016 to 2018 July. The workers had earned around Rs 1, 246 crore as wages -cum-bonus (2016-2017) income. The State Government had made arrangements to give away Rs 747 crore as bonus in this month.
Forest Minister Mr. Mahesh Gaagda said that there are 32 lakh members in the 13 lakh tendu-patta procures’ families. The 32 lakh members collect primary forest produce apart from sal seeds, tamarind, wax and Mahua seeds. Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh implemented multiple social welfare schemes through the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Co-Operative Samities. There are around 900 Primary Minor Forest Co-Operative Samities in the State.
Mr. Gaagda said that the wages had been increased to Rs Two thousand five hundred a bag from the year 2018-an increase of Rs One thousand in one year. The collectors had received a bonus amount of Rs 363 crore for the year 2016 in the year 2017. The bonus of Rs 747 crore for the year 2017 will begin soon. The authorities had taken several crucial decisions for the socio-economic up-liftment of the workers. He also said that around 10 thousand 270 supervisors had been allocated cycles in the current fiscal. They had been insured for the first time.
The minister that they had been included Prime Minister Jeevan Jyoti Insurance Scheme. The head of the family is insured for Rs 2 lakh . The managers of Minor Forest Produce Co-Operative Samities had also been insured for Rs 1 lakh an increase of Rs 75 thousand. About 36 lakh 43 thousand pairs of footwear had been distributed to the Tendupatta workers in two years since 2016 to 2017. About 12 lakh footwear had been distributed to the Tendupatta collectors till August 2018.