Bhubaneswar, Nov 10: Yesterday the Odisha CM, Naveen Patnaik made an announcement of providing 100 percent bonus to Kendu leaf pluckers of the state for the year 2016. He was on a tour to Boudh and Subarnpur districts yesterday where he also declared that the scheme will benefit 8.5 lakh kendu leaf pluckers and will cost the state exchequer Rs 130 crore. Also the allowances of kendu leaf pluckers and temporary workers have been increased from 10 percent to 20 percent and it will benefit 40 thousand workers and Rs 20 crore will be spent on it.
It’s stated that the government will be providing Rs 4,000 to temporary workers, peons and clerks would get Rs 4,000 to buy bicycles and for financial support to their children in their higher studies. The government also declared to provide water bottles, specially designed clothes and caps which are to be worn while plucking, to the Kendu leaf pluckers. Additional to this, the government has also made plans to spend Rs 6 lakh each for multipurpose shelter homes for them. He informed all this at a public gathering being held at Boudh.
A notification issues by the CM’s office stated that the Kendu leaf plucking fee for the agricultural year 2017 has been increased by the government. On the other hand, the plucking fee for a bunch consisting of 20 leaves which used to be 70 paisa earlier will now be 80 paisa from 2017. Besides this, there would be an increase in the disability assistance for the temporary workers, peons and clerks from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1, 00,000, their medical assistance will be increased to Rs 2, 00,000 and they would also be provided with Rs 25,000 for their daughter’s marriage.
