By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday written a letter to Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman seeking withdrawal of GST on Kendue leaves.Citing his earlier letter dated 25.11.2022 regarding this issue, CM Patnaik said “ Minor forest produce like Kendue leaves is financial backbone of 8 Lakhs Kendu leaves pluckers, binders and seasonal workers of Odisha and the entire workface enagaged in its, were tribal and women belongs to poorest of poor.
Imposition of 18% GST on Kendu leaves adversely affected Kendu leaves trade. “Once again requested to withdraw GST,” CM Patnaik added.‘The Tribal people collect the leaves as part of their rights defined under ST and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act of 2006,’ CM Patnaik argued.
In May this year, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced assistance of Rs 111 crore in the second phase for the beneficiaries of Kendusalay, which benefited 7.75 lakh kendu leaf pluckers and 40,000 regular and seasonal workers (binders) in Odisha. Already in the first phase, Rs 83 crores of assistance had been directly deposited in the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
Each kendu leaf plucker got financial assistance of Rs.1000 along with Rs.2000 and Rs.160 for water bottle and sandals respectively. Similarly, 15,000 rupees were given as financial assistance to each bandit and signal staff.
