Malkangiri: Tribal Kendu leaf collectors of Malkangiri district are unable to sell their produce. They’ve often approached the authorities in this regard, but no help has come their way.
The aggrieved villagers reside in 11 villages such as Gorakhunta, Krushubada, Kamaliguda, Ponarguda , MV 20, MV 21, MV 2, Mutumaguda, Singaniguda, Bangaruguda and Sibaniguda in Gorakhunta panchayat.
They have threatened to block Motu National Highway in Shikarpalli village Monday if the administration does not take steps to help them sell Kendu leaves.
Sarpanch AR Padiami, Samitisabhya R Bharati Runjae, Mangit Runjae of Kusubada village, Subhadra Duari, Ungi Padiami, Kamala Duari, Samari Padiami, Shyema Madkami, Ungi Rame, Kamala Duari, Samari Padiami, Pramila Tajali and around 200 villagers decided at a meeting that if the government does not buy the leaves within three days they will stage protests.
The villagers said they have finished collection of Kendu leaves two months ago. Usually the administration starts buying leaves from the last week of April and that continues for two to three weeks.
Kendu leaf collection centres are opened at MV 18 and MV 17 villages where villagers of Gorakhunta panchyat sell their leaves. But the failure of the administration to open centres this time has created tension among villagers.
Last year, the villagers had to sell their leaves to a private agency due to the negligence of the district authorities. This year too, the delay in opening the centres has led to outrage.
The villagers said they manage their household expenses by selling the Kendu leaves. Worried villagers said that no action has been taken by the Kendu Leaf Department.
The villagers want to know why the government is not making arrangements for Kendu leaf procurement in their panchayat.
The villagers have given a memorandum to the Collector, IIC, the District Labour Executive and the Forest Ranger of Malkanagri district. They demanded procurement of Kendu leaves in their area as soon as possible and threatened to take to the street.
The local Sarpanch said that Kendu Leaf Forest Ranger Sunand Pattnaik had said the government had permitted the Forest Department to collect Kendu leaves from a particular area of Malkanagri district. But now panchayats have been asked to collect Kendu leaves and sell it to private agencies. Panchayat Executive Officers have been given the responsibility to collect the leaves, transport it and pay labourers.
He also said that he had recently found that the villagers of Gorkhunta panchayat had finished collecting Kendu leaves.
Some labourers were given training in the scientific method of bush cutting of Kendu trees by the Forest Department. He said that the villagers of Gorakhunta panchayat have done bush cutting of Kendu trees without informing him.
The list of Kendu leaf collection centres has already been declared by the government. The leaves on the trees will turn dry if they are not collected within three to four days. The Ranger said he was helpless in these circumstances.
This has raised the question as to why the Panchayat Extension Officer of Gorakhunta panchayat did not remind the tribals regarding this. He has also not taken any steps so that private agencies or SHGs could buy the Kendu leaves from the villagers.
It remains to be seen what steps will be taken by the district administration and Forest Department in future regarding this.
PNN