Baripada: Livelihood of scores of traditional forest dwellers and tribals mainly depends on collection and sales of minor forest produces (MFPs), but most of them allegedly face distress sale of their produce and are deprived of fair price.
The distress sale of MFPs is expected to be over as SHGs will buy them from tribals at fair prices.
According to reports, Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) has launched Ban Dhan Bikash Yojana in Mayurbhanj district to ensure that tribals get the minimum support prices of their MFPs.
Union Minister of Jal Shakti Biswheswar Tudu said that tribals and forest dwellers will immensely benefit from the scheme. Mayurbhanj is the first district in the state where this scheme has been launched.
Thousands of traditional forest dwellers and tribals in Mayurbhanj eke out their living by selling minor forest produces like mahua flowers, resin, harida, bahada, tamarind and anla in local markets.
But the prices they get from sales of the MFPs are too meagre in comparison to their hard labour they invest in collection, and the prices offered by other states.
Many a time, the unsold MFPs rot in their houses. Thus, their hard labour goes waste, it is said. A dozen of 12 self help groups have been involved in the scheme.
Four SHGs working under Baripada ITDA, two from Udala and three each from Karanjia and Rairangpur blocks will procure the MFPs from tribals living their respective areas.
Each SHG will be provided with Rs 15 lakh loan for the work. The MFPs will be packaged and sold in the market with approval of Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSAI).
TRIFED will also open a sales outlet named as Tribes India in the district.
PNN