Bhubaneswar: The Odisha chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, Tuesday declared Rs 222 crore bonus and incentives for the Kendu Leaf pluckers and other workers for the year 2018. He was presiding over the Kendu Leaf Development Board.
There are 8.52 lakh Kendu leaf pluckers, 20,650 leaf binders and17,860 casual workers engaged in the activities. The Kendu Leaf business provides 1 crore labour days to these workers every year.
The Board meeting was attended by forest minister Bikram Keshri Arakhu, chief secretary AP Padhi, development commissioner Asit Tripathy, additional chief secretary forest & environment Suresh Mohapatra and president of the Kendu Leaf Workers Federation Bijaya Mohanty.
