Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced a financial assistance of Rs. 56 crores in the third phase of 2022 crop year for Kendu leaf beneficiaries of the state. The announcement will benefit more than 8 lakh beneficiaries.
The bonus and incentive amount will be disbursed in the current month of July, a release issued by the CMO stated.
In the third phase of 2022 crop year, 25 percent bonus will be given to 7. 75 lakh pluckers while 40 thousand binders and seasonal workers will get 5 percent incentive. Thus, a total of Rs 56.23 crore will be given.
In the first phase, Rs 1,000 were given to each plucker and Rs 1500 to each binders and seasonal workers. Thus, a total of 83.34 crores of financial assistance were provided.
Similarly, in the second phase of the year 2022, 7. 75 lakh puckers were given financial assistance of Rs 1,000, Rs 200 for water bottle and Rs 160 for sandals each. Thus, a total of Rs 1360 were given to each plucker. In this phase, 40,000 pluckers and seasonal workers were paid Rs 15,00 each. Thus, a total of Rs 111.21 cr was paid.
Including the third phase, the total amount of financial assistance given to kendu leaf beneficiaries will be Rs. 250.78 crores which is an all-time record in a single crop year.
Notably, kendu leaf pluckers had been paid Rs 118.83 cr as bonus and incentive in 2022 for the year 2021.
The beneficiaries are being paid 111 percent more assistance in 2022 than the year 2021
