Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav will distribute more than ₹22.89 crore in incentive payments to eligible tendu leaf collectors from six districts at a programme in Shahdol on October 25.
The payments relate to the 2024 tendu leaf collection season and will benefit 9,77,696 eligible collectors from Shahdol, Anuppur, Umaria, Rewa, Sidhi and Satna districts. The total amount to be distributed is ₹22,89,09,461. More than 15,000 tendu leaf collectors are expected to attend the programme.
₹461.73 Crore Development Projects in Shahdol
During the visit, the Chief Minister will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for 134 development projects worth ₹461.73 crore in Shahdol district.
According to the state government, the projects are divided into two categories:
- Foundation stones: 89 projects worth ₹379.45 crore.
- Inaugurations: 45 projects worth ₹82.28 crore.
The programme will combine the distribution of incentive payments to tendu leaf collectors with the inauguration and foundation-laying ceremonies for development works in the district.
About Tendu Leaf Collection
Tendu leaves, collected from the Diospyros melanoxylon tree, are primarily used to make bidis (traditional hand-rolled cigarettes). Their collection provides seasonal livelihoods for rural and forest-dependent households. In Madhya Pradesh, the government provides eligible collectors with incentive payments linked to the tendu leaf trade.
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