15p bonus to continue for Kendu leaf pluckers

Bhubaneswar: The State government has decided to provide a bonus of 15 paise per kerry (comprising 40 leaves) to Kendu leaf pluckers like last year.

During the second meeting of the Kendu Leaf Development Board at the secretariat chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik here yesterday, it was decided that the bonus will remain the same like last year.

The meeting was also informed that steps to reduce forest development tax on Kendu leaves to 2 percent from present 16 percent will be initiated soon.

Among others, Forest and Environment minister Bikram Keshari Arukh, Labour minister Prafulla Kumar Mallick and chief secretary G.C. Pati were present during the meeting.