Odisha Cabinet Approves LABHA Scheme for Tribal Empowerment

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday approved the ‘LABHA’ (Laghu Bana Jatya Drabya Kraya) scheme for the development and empowerment of tribals in the State.

During a press briefing after the Cabinet meeting, Ministers Sudam Marndi and Jagannath Saraka, Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena and Principal Secretary, ST& SC Development Department Roopa Roshan Sahoo informed it.

LABHA Yojana is a 100% state-funded MSP for MFP scheme(minimum support price for minor forest produce ).
The Minimum Support Price will be determined every year by the State Government.

Under the scheme a primary collector (tribal) will be able to sell the minor forest produce at Minimum Support Price collected at the procurement centres by TDCCOL.

Since 99% of primary collectors are tribals and a majority of them are women, LABHA Yojana will integrate the efforts with the Mission Shakti’s Women SHGs.

These procurement centres will be managed by SHGs /any other notified agencies assisted by TDCCOL.

Upon collection the amount will be transferred as DBT to the beneficiary account and the SHG /any other agency will receive Commission(2%) as well.

The Procurement automation System will capture the total collection of MFP and the details of the primary collector and the procurement point. As per 5t principles Procurement Automation System which will use Technology to ensure Transparency will bring about greater benefits for the tribal people.

For further sale, TDCCOL will do e- tendering and explore value addition and processing units.

The State Government to further benefit the tribals is setting up a 25-crore Tamarind processing plant in Rayagada which will use the Minor Forest Produce of Tamarind procured through LABHA Yojana for value-addition.

Due to LABHA Yojana, the possibility of distress sale of the produce to any middlemen will also be eliminated, according to an official release.