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Income levels of tribals improve

Staff Reporter

Streamlining the collection of forest produce hailed

HOSUR: With the State Government permitting the local tribal to collect the entire Minor Forest Produce (MFP) free of cost it has now made visible changes in the livelihood of tribals within two years of implementation.

In Tamil Nadu there are 232 Tribal Village Forest Committees enjoying the benefit of about 300 Minor Forest Produce (MFP) lease units in 11 tribal dominant districts said the District Forest Officer, S. Paulraj.

The average net profit worked out for each society would be Rs. 25,000 per annum apart from the employment generated through MFP collection.

While income from the employment generated through the MFP collection goes to the individuals the profit through sale of MFP goes to the society for community development works.

In Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts a total of 57,763 forest dependant tribals have been benefited by the employment generated through MFP collection.

Apart from the net profit of Rs. 14 lakhs to the tribal societies community development works such as tribal education and rural electrification transport are also undertaken through the societies.

Mr. Paulraj said that more than 23 varieties of MFP have been approved by the Forest Department for collection.

The major collection includes tamarind, nelli, kadukkai, seyakkai, pungan, honey and medicinal plants. With each produce coming to harvest during different seasons continuous employment is generated throughout the year.

Value addition

The provision for value addition to some of the products has added more revenue creating additional employment.

The MFP is given free of cost to all Village Forest Committees (VFC) created under the Tamil Nadu Afforestation Project. With most of the forest dependant communities being weaker sections who are living below the poverty line the free MFP collection given to tribal VFCs and non-tribal project village VFCs has helped in improving their economic condition.

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