Naveen Turns Golden Leaf into Golden Livelihood

Bhubaneswar: Kendu leaf is an important forest product of Odisha and a means of living for lakhs of poor people dwelling in the forest vicinity of the state. Due to its higher economic value, Kendu leaf is also called the golden leaf. Moreover, Kendu leaf plays an important role in the rural economy of the state as its plucking provides employment to the millions of poor belonging to the tribal, dalit and other backward communities. It is a good for source of income for these people during summer when there is hardly any agricultural work or opportunities of wage earnings.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has been working relentlessly on the path of inclusive growth. The objective is to ensure the fruits of the development reach the last mile. Lakhs of poor people from forest community heaved a sigh of relief when Naveen Patnaik announced a sum of Rs 92.37 crore towards bonus and other assistance for the welfare of Kendu leaf pluckers and other employees for the current year. It will benefit kendu leaf collectors, workers engaged in binding bundles of Kendu leaf and casual workers. There are also provisions made for the development of infrastructure.

Similarly, Naveen Patnaik has also enhanced the compensation amount for death or physical disability of Kendu leaf workers. In case of death or physical disability of Kendu leaf workers, the compensation amount has been hiked to Rs 2 lakh from its earlier amount of Rs. 1 lakh.

While a little over 8.5 lakh people are engaged in kendu leaf plucking, another 20,000 are engaged in bush cutting as well as processing and binding, around 16,000 -17000 people are engaged as seasonal workers for supervision and other activities who will be benefitted by this announcement.

The announcement is well timed as well. At a time when the people are worried about livelihood owing to the global pandemic and subsequent economic slowdown, the State Government’s announcement has come as a huge relief to the workers engaged in it.

Last year during the 2020 crop year, Rs 250 crore was paid directly to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts through Direct Bank Transfer (DBT).

In yet another pro active step to provide livelihood to these workers, Odisha Government had allowed kendu leaf collection during the second phase of Covid-19 lockdown. As a result, over 60 lakh person days were created during the current fiscal in works like bush cutting, procurement of leaves, phadi repairing, leaf drying, storage, processing, binding, bagging and transportation etc.

The kendu leaf is collected and processed by a special wing of the forest department called kendu leaf wing. Like many other forest products, it is a seasonal operation which engages huge number of labourers (both skilled and non skilled). Seasonal Trained workers process the Kendu Leaf and later the lots are formed and delivered to OFDC for marketing. OFDC then calls open tender in a prescribed format for trade.

Thanking Naveen Patnaik for the steps taken for the welfare of the people, Kendu Leaf workers’ leader Upendra Samal stated that it would greatly help the workers.

Echoing similar sentiment, a Kendu leaf worker from G. Udaygiri Block of Kandhamal district, Kunwar Digal said, “At a time when the income from the Kendu leaf is dipping, the announcement of bonus is like a silver lining for us.”

Expressing similar sentiment, another worker Ramesh Kunwar, who works at Padi in Daringibadi Block, said, “Earlier, we used to earn Rs. 30-35 thousand per year way back in 2004-2005 , but now it has came down to 5 thousand for various reasons , and the announcement of bonus will definitely help our livelihood.
Be it bonus or compensation for disability, the announcement is definitely a need of the hour and will not only enhance their social security, but also boost their livelihood, said a social activist, Upendra Kunwar.

Odisha is the third largest producer of Kendu leaf in the country. The districts like Bolangir, Angul, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Koraput, Kandhamal, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj are the major kendu leaf-producing districts in Odisha.

The Uniqueness of Odisha’s kendu leaf is in processed form whereas the rest of the states in India produce in Phal Form.

Naveen Patnaik emphasises on the need to drive change. With his Midas touch, he brings in a huge change in the lives of the people. He creates opportunity for everyone to grow. No wonder, he is the peoples’ Chief Minister in the whole country occupying No 1 position by any standard.