Commissioner held a meeting with collectors regarding rate determination of kendu leaves.

Hazaribagh, 9 December (Hindustan Reporter). Under the chairmanship of Divisional Commissioner cum Chairman of the Marigold Advisory Committee Pawan Kumar, a meeting was held on Monday at North Chhotanagpur Divisional Office, Hazaribagh to determine the collection price of Marigold per standard bag for the year 2025 season. In this, discussions were held with the collector members to advise the government for determining the purchase rate per standard bag of kendu leaves from primary collectors for the year 2025 season under North Chhotanagpur divisional area. During the discussion, the Commissioner-cum-Chairman was informed that in the earlier meeting, the Chairman and the Committee had recommended the purchase price of kendu leaves at Rs 1700 per standard bag for forest land and tenant land.

In this, the rate of Rs 1750 per standard bag was approved by the government for the year 2024 season. Due to this, during informal discussion with the people associated with Kendu leaves trade and officials of Jharkhand State Forest Development Corporation, it was told that due to the purchase price being increased from Rs 1650 per standard bag to Rs 1750 per standard bag in the year 2024, buyers will be discouraged. Have become. Due to this, only 31 lots out of total 70 lots of Hazaribagh division could be sold. This caused loss in the government’s revenue. Seasonal collection of kendu leaves is an important source of additional income for the villagers of the developed forests near the forests.

Due to non-sale of lot, part-time laborers of that area also remained deprived of employment. After considering all these things, through the Commissioner-cum-Chairman and the committee, it was decided to advise the government to increase the purchase price of kendu leaves by only five to six percent minimum for the 2025 season and fix it at Rs 1850 per standard bag for forest land and tenant land. taken. With this, 100 percent kendu leaves can be sold and Jharkhand State Forest Development Corporation can also get better revenue. Due to the minimal increase in the rate of kendu leaves, remote rural laborers will be encouraged to purchase the kendu leaves collected by them and they will get employment. In the meeting, advisory committee member R.N. Mishra, Regional Chief Forest Conservator Mamta Priyadarshi, General Manager Convenor-cum-Secretary, Mohammad Ilahi, Mo Azhar Imam, Talo Marandi, Dinanath Besra, Ramchandra Ganjhu, Vikas Kumar Yadav, Mo Kosar and others were present.