Betul Bureau
Today is a big day for forest-dwelling families and tendu leaf collectors in Betul. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav will arrive in Betul in the afternoon and transfer bonus of more than Rs 30 crore to the accounts of over 3.69 lakh tendu leaf collectors. Along with this, village forest committees will receive timber dividend of more than Rs 13 crore, and the district will get development works worth more than Rs 443 crore.
Preparations for the Chief Minister’s visit have been completed in Betul. The main programme will be held at the Police Ground in Betul, where departments will also put up an exhibition based on development and public-welfare schemes. A large number of tendu leaf collectors, representatives of forest committees and local residents will attend the programme.
Today’s itinerary: Chief Minister to reach Betul in the afternoon
As per the released programme, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav will leave Bhopal by helicopter at 12 noon for Betul. He will reach the helipad at Milanpur at 12:40 pm. After that, at around 1 pm, he will reach village Badora for a local programme, where a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel will also be unveiled.
The Chief Minister will then reach the main programme venue at the Betul Police Parade Ground at around 1:20 pm. From here, he will join the bonus transfer programme for tendu leaf collectors and will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for the district’s development works. After the programme, the Chief Minister will leave from the Milanpur helipad for Bhopal at 3:30 pm and reach Bhopal at around 4:10 pm.
Who will benefit: 3.69 lakh families across seven forest divisions
The bonus amount will benefit tendu leaf collectors of seven forest divisions of the state. These are South Betul, West Betul, North Betul, Pandhurna (South Chhindwara), East Chhindwara, West Chhindwara and Narmadapuram forest divisions. A large number of forest-dwelling families in these divisions earn their livelihood through tendu leaf collection.
The tendu leaf collection season usually falls in the summer months, when families living in forest areas pluck leaves and deposit them at collection centres. After this, bonus is paid to the collectors as additional payment from the income earned from the sale of the leaves. This bonus is sent directly to the bank accounts of the collectors, which removes the role of middlemen and ensures that the full amount reaches the beneficiary.
Village forest committees to get timber dividend of over Rs 13 crore
On this occasion, the Chief Minister will also transfer timber dividend of more than Rs 13 crore to village forest committees. Village forest committees are institutions in forest-area villages associated with forest management and conservation, in which local villagers participate. The dividend received from forest-produce income is spent on development works in the villages.
According to forest department officials, this kind of dividend strengthens the partnership between forests and villages. When a share of the income from forests reaches the village committees directly, the sense of responsibility towards forest conservation also increases among local people. A large number of village forest committees are active in Betul district, engaged in forest management as well as livelihood-related work.
Betul to get development works worth more than Rs 443 crore
During this visit, Betul district will also get development works worth more than Rs 443 crore. These works will be inaugurated and their foundation stones laid. The development works include projects related to roads, drinking water, education, health and rural infrastructure, which will directly benefit the common people of the district.
The exhibition being put up by various departments at the programme venue will also give information about government schemes. The purpose of the exhibition is that people coming from far-flung villages can learn about the schemes at one place and understand the process of availing their benefits.
Tendu leaf collection: the backbone of the forest economy
Tendu leaf is an important forest produce of the forest areas of Madhya Pradesh. Its leaves are used in making beedis, so its demand remains in the market. For thousands of families living in forest areas, tendu leaf collection is the biggest source of cash income for a few months of the year. During the collection days, entire families go to the forest from morning and bring back plucked leaves.
Betul district is counted among the leading districts of the state in terms of forest wealth. Along with tendu leaf, produce like mahua, amla, harra, baheda and gum is also found in the forest areas here. But the income from tendu leaf collection matters more because it reaches a large number of families directly, and the participation of women in it is also very high.
Direct benefit through the bonus system: money to reach accounts
The purpose of the system of giving bonus to tendu leaf collectors is that the labourers who do the collection get the full value of their hard work. At the time of collection, collectors are paid at the fixed rate. After that, when income is earned from the sale of the leaves, additional amount is given to the collectors in the form of bonus. This system increases the income of the collectors and also encourages collection work.
Transparency has also increased with the system of transfer directly to bank accounts. Earlier, there were complaints of delay and deduction in cash payments, but now with digital transfer, the amount reaches directly into the beneficiary’s account. The transfer to be done in Betul today will also be done under this system.
Bonus given earlier too: 8.66 lakh collectors benefited in Shahdol
This is not the first occasion when bonus has been given to tendu leaf collectors. Earlier in October itself, bonus of Rs 22.85 crore had reached the accounts of 8.66 lakh tendu leaf collectors in Shahdol. The Chief Minister had transferred this amount with a single click. A large number of collector families had directly benefited in that programme too.
The Shahdol experience made it clear how important the direct transfer of bonus is for the collectors. The amount received before Diwali also helps families in their festival preparations. The bonus distribution to be held in Betul today is also happening just before Diwali, which increases its importance further.
What next: relief before Diwali, focus on development works
After today’s programme, the development works whose foundation stones will be laid in Betul district will be watched in the coming months. The speed and quality of work after the foundation laying will decide how soon the benefit of the announced package reaches the people. The works to be inaugurated are expected to give immediate facilities to the people.
For tendu leaf collectors, today is special also because the bonus amount will reach their accounts before Diwali. The additional income at festival time will help families in shopping and meeting their needs. For families living in forest areas, this amount is not only financial help but also recognition of their hard work.
Disclaimer: This news has been prepared on the basis of available sources and verification. If any fact is found incorrect, a correction will be published.
