Our Government is Committed to Increasing the Income and Ensuring the Holistic Development of Forest Dwellers: Chief Minister Sai

Chief Minister Attends the Oath-Taking Ceremony of the Newly Appointed Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce (Trade & Development) Cooperative Federation Ltd.

Raipur, Nov 2025 : Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai today attended the oath-taking ceremony of the newly appointed Chairman Shri Roop Sai Salaam and Vice-Chairman Shri Yagyadatt Sharma of the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce (Trade & Development) Cooperative Federation Ltd., held at the Medical College auditorium in Raipur. He congratulated both the Chairman and Vice-Chairman and extended his best wishes for their new responsibilities.

The Chief Minister said that Shri Salaam has been entrusted with a very important responsibility as Chairman, and he will carry it out with utmost sensitivity, experience, and efficiency. He added that Shri Salaam belongs to the tribal community and understands the problems, expectations, and needs of the community very well. The Chief Minister emphasized that the state government is continuously working to increase the income of forest dwellers and ensure their holistic development.

He said that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee envisioned the upliftment of tribal communities living in the region and created the state of Chhattisgarh. The establishment of a separate Tribal Affairs Ministry at the Centre further accelerated the development of tribal communities. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has carried this vision forward through initiatives like the ‘Dhartiaaba Gram Utkarsh Yojana’ and ‘PM Janman Yojana’, under which remarkable work is being done in tribal-dominated regions.

The Chief Minister further stated that Chhattisgarh offers the highest price in the country for tendu leaf collectors. Special emphasis is being laid on value addition of forest produce, so that the income of forest-dwelling communities increases and they achieve real economic empowerment.

Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap said it is the good fortune of the state that Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai himself comes from a tribal community and deeply understands the challenges, hardships, and aspirations of forest-dwelling brothers and sisters. He said that 32% of the state’s population is tribal and 44% of the region is forested; hence forest produce is the primary source of livelihood for forest dwellers. He added that tendu leaves are called “green gold,” and Chief Minister Sai has ensured they receive a price worthy of that name. Chhattisgarh has become the first state in the country to increase the price of a standard tendu leaf bag from ₹4,000 to ₹5,500.

Forest Minister Kashyap noted that Chief Minister Sai has not only revived the ‘Charan Paduka Yojana,’ but is also implementing various schemes to improve the living standards of minor forest produce collectors and their families.

The event was attended by Health Minister Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, NAN Chairman Shri Sanjay Srivastava, Yoga Commission Chairman Shri Roop Narayan Sinha, Chairman of Chhattisgarh Tribal Local Health Tradition & Medicinal Plant Board Shri Vikas Markam, Waqf Board Chairman Dr. Salim Raj, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Shri V. Srinivas Rao, members of the Minor Forest Produce Federation, and a large number of forest produce collectors from across the state.