Green gold collectors of Bastar are getting remuneration directly from Bank Mitra and Bank Sakhi.

In Bastar region, Tendu leaves are considered green gold, which is the main source of additional income for the collectors of the forest region. In the summer days, when the villagers have neither any work in the fields nor any work at home, then the collection of these tendu leaves i.e. green gold gives them ample remuneration on the basis of hard work and collection. The increase in the rate of per standard bag of tendu leaves has also brought happiness to the villagers living in the forest region. After the Chief Minister of the state Shri Vishnudev Sai made the amount of per standard bag of tendu leaves Rs. 5500, there is immense happiness among the collectors. At the same time, as a result of the payment of tendu leaf remuneration to the collectors through bank sakhis at the local level, the collectors of remote rural areas are getting a lot of convenience. Keeping this in mind, Collector Shri Vijay Dayaram K. Under the guidance of the collectors of the interior areas of the district, the remuneration amount of tendu leaves is being paid through Bank Mitras and Bank Sakhis. The remuneration amount of Rs 12 crore 43 lakh 95 thousand 749 for the tendu leaves collected in the tendu leaf season 2024 is being paid to 36 thousand 229 collectors by the Bank Mitras and Bank Sakhis of their village.

Tendu leaf collectors Aitu and Baisu of the remote village Kuthar of Lohandiguda development block have been collecting tendu leaves and selling them to the committee for years. These collectors, who earn three to five to eight thousand rupees in a season, say that they pluck leaves from morning to evening and prepare a bundle, then take them to the market and sell them. Most of their time is spent in the forest. Expressing happiness over the Chief Minister increasing the rate of Rs. 4000 per standard sack to Rs. 5500, Baisu said that this has benefited many collectors like him.

Collectors Mase Mandavi and Sukali Mandavi, residents of village Pakhanar of Darbha block, say that they have been plucking tendu leaves for many years. In the interest of collectors, the amount of Rs. 4000 has been increased to Rs. 5500 per standard sack and poor collectors will benefit from it. Sukari Netam, resident of Dimrapal of Bakawand block, said that she has been collecting tendu leaves for many years along with farming. In the village, some income is earned during summers by collecting tendu leaves. It takes hard work to pluck each leaf and make a bundle. The government has increased the amount understanding the importance of the hard work of the collectors, which is commendable.

These rural collectors told that the collectors are getting relief as the Chief Minister has increased the rate per standard sack for tendu leaf collectors from Rs. 4000 to Rs. 5500. Bakawand Dimrapal collector Saito Yadav told that there is marshland and forest near the village. Tendu leaf collection is easily done in the surrounding area. If money is received from tendu leaf collection, then the needs of the family are met. This is the main source of additional income for rural collectors. Thus, all the tendu leaf collectors living in the forest areas of the district have felt happy due to the increase in the rate per standard sack for tendu leaf collectors.

Bank Mitra Pakhanar Ramo Kunjam told that he has paid tendu leaf remuneration to more than 250 tendu leaf collectors of 05 gram panchayats of the area. Bank Mitra Samu Kashyap of Kasturpal of Lohandiguda block has made payments to more than 50 collectors and Bank Sakhi Jamuna Thakur of Bhanpuri of Bastar development block has made payments to more than 56 collectors. Bank Sakhi Tuleshwari Patel of Dimrapal of Bakawand block has so far paid more than 1.5 lakh rupees to more than 90 tendu leaf collectors of Dimrapal and Chhindgaon.

Bank Sakhis made payments to tendu leaf collectors of 15 committees of the district

Divisional Forest Officer and Managing Director, District Cooperative Union, Jagdalpur, Shri Uttam Gupta informed that a total of 36 thousand 229 collectors of 15 Primary Forest Produce Cooperative Societies, under all the 07 development blocks of the district, are being paid remuneration amounting to Rs. 12 crore 43 lakh 95 thousand 749 through Bank Mitras and Bank Sakhis of their villages. Under this, 79 lakh 47 thousand 665 rupees were paid to 1947 collectors of 13 gram panchayats of Lohandiguda block, 03 lakh 36 thousand 193 rupees were paid to 76 collectors of one gram panchayat of Tokapal development block, 79 lakh 69 thousand 995 rupees were paid to 1831 collectors of 22 gram panchayats of Bastanar block, 02 crore 68 lakh 72 thousand 736 rupees were paid to 10 thousand 78 collectors of 65 gram panchayats of Bastar development block, 1 crore 37 lakh 71 thousand 934 rupees were paid to 1782 collectors of 21 gram panchayats of Darbha block and 05 crore 45 lakh 47 thousand 614 rupees were paid to 16 thousand 510 collectors of 86 gram panchayats of Bakawand development block by the local bank sakhis. This facilitated the rural collectors in getting the payment and at the same time these bank friends also got a good amount of commission.