Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh is taking up the matter with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee .
A minimum support price (MSP) for minor forest produce (MFP) would help increase the earnings of the tribal population. At present, the more valuable items of minor forest produce, which includes bamboo and tendu patta can only be sold to state government bodies. While tribals can collect and utilise these minor forest products, the aggregation, processing, value addition and marketing of MFP is in the hands of local contractors, forest official . and forest produce marketing federations. The forest produce is procured from the tribals at very low prices fixed randomly by contractors. The local forest administration is seen to be complicit in this exploitation of the forest dwellers and tribals. A MSP would put an end to the widespread exploitation of tribals. Ramesh is of the view that since these areas fall within the purview Schedule V of the Constitution, the Centre has the power to step in and introduce MSP for minor forest produce.
Experts have pointed out that in the Dandakaranya forests stretching across eastern Maharashtra and south Chhattisgarh, one of the "confidence building" measures undertaken by the Maoists was negotiating "higher" price for the tribals with private contractors. Except the "higher" price was nowhere near the states' minimum wages. But the slight improvement in the earnings ensured that the tribals felt "indebted" to the Maoists. Delhi University's Nirmalangshu Mukherjee argues that the Maoists use the opportunity to work out a deal with the contractors, thereby securing a revenue stream for themselves. While MSP for the produce could help dent this steady revenue stream, it would be required to be administered. Read the full report here.
Source: Urmi A Goswami, ET Bureau, Economic Times, Â New Delhi.
