Naveen thanks Jual for raising plight of kendu leaf pluckers

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today thanked Union Minister Jual Oram for writing to him demanding an amendment to the Odisha Kendu Leaves Act, 1961.

In a reply to Oram, Patnaik mentioned in a letter that the State government has taken a pledge to safeguard the rights of kendu leaf pluckers and necessary steps will be taken.

Earlier, on July 3, Oram had urged Patnaik to remove existing discrepancies in procurement of kendu leaves and facilitate the sale to provide relief to pluckers. In the letter, the Union Minister had noted there is a contradiction between the Forest Rights Act 2006 and the Odisha Kendu Leaves (Control of Trade) Act 1961.

He said as the State has not amended the provisions of Kendu Leaves Act 1961 in line with those of Forest Rights Act 2006, poor villagers are deprived of their rights and losing livelihood.

The Union Minister added implementation of the FRA is the responsibility of State and the district administration should be sensitized on the matter. Currently rejection cases are higher, even though gram sabha committees are clearing the cases.