2 min readNagpurApr 17, 2014 12:47 PM IST
First published on: Mar 2, 2013 at 04:21 AM IST
The government issued a circular Friday authorising,for the first time,gram sabhas willing to hold own auctions for tendu leaves collection,legally a state monopoly.
Tendu collection fetches handsome wages for about a month in summer,generally April onwards,to over 4.5 lakh tribals. Contractors buy rights and employ locals to collect tendu leaves used for making beedis.
The government collects over Rs 100 crore annually through these auctions. Last year,a buoyant market ensured the collection was over Rs 140 crore. The money,minus the operative cost,is then re-distributed among tendu collectors as bonus.
Some gram sabhas in Gondia and Gadchiroli have expressed willingness to hold auctions. “They will have to adopt resolutions that they want to hold auctions,” head of Forest Force Alok Joshi said.
Tendu contractors have boycotted government auctions this year protesting the condition that they will be held responsible for forest fires. Fires are believed to generate fresh leaves that can be stored longer.
The forest department set a condition last year that contractors will have to guard against such fires and if found responsible,they would be fined. Last year,there was a long stalemate,but the contractors relented and also paid fines.
This year,however,they are adamant as the tendu market is recessive.
“Last year,the prices were very high,so they could afford to bid despite the condition. Since the prices are low this year,business would be worse if they have to pay fines too,” sources said.
Principal secretary (forest) Pravin Pardeshi said,“The gram sabhas will need money to create storage facilities and pay wages. We will help them with bank loans. But they will also be bound by the forest fire condition. We will soon introduce e-tendering to facilitate tendu contractors from all over India to participate in the bids.”
Sources said power struggle among contractors kept bidders from MP,Kolkata and Chhattisgarh out. “Those winning e-bids will be given full protection,” Pardeshi said.
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