Bamboo cutter labourers get dividends for first time in country
Bhopal: Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan set a precedent by distributing cent percent dividend of bamboo cutting to labourers at Malakhand in tribal-dominated Birsa development block today for the first time in the country. These labourers were given dividend worth Rs. 8 crore 57 lakh 59 thousand accruing from production and sale of bamboo weighing over 58 thousand notional tonnes.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan also handed bonus amounts to tendu patta collectors as a token. About 73 thousand 574 tendu patta collectors are being paid Rs. 7 crore 14 lakh 97 thousand. At the programme, benefits worth Rs. 90 crore 68 lakh 37 thousand were also distributed to 95 thousand 635 beneficiaries under various schemes.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government has made efforts to improve tribals’ financial condition by announcing support prices of forest produce.
The Chief Minister said that forest land right documents are being given to eligible traditional forest dwellers and tribals. They are also being given benefits of the government schemes. Shri Chouhan informed that directives have been given to include names of both the spouse in these documents.
The Chief Ministers said that the families living in shanties and do not have their own land will be given residential pattas. Campaign for distributing pattas will be launched soon.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government has urged the Union Government to allot more houses under the Indira Gandhi Kuteer Yojna in the state. If the Union Government does not increase quota under the scheme, then process of making houses available to poor families under the State Government’s schemes like Antyodaya Mukhyamantri Aawas Yojna, Mukhyamantri Aawas Yojna etc. will be started by the State Government.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that medicines will be made available free of cost in all the government hospitals from November this year. He said that Madhya Pradesh will be the first state to implement this scheme.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government has removed all the hurdles in school and higher education by chalking out several schemes. The State Government will also implement a scheme to extend bank guarantee on loans to youths desirous of setting up self-employment. Under the scheme, the State Government will pay interest on loans. He said that process is underway to formulate the scheme.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government has made large-scale arrangements for making agriculture a profitable occupation. Balaghat is known as a paddy-growing district. The State Government has increased bonus of Rs. 50 on procurement of paddy per quintal to Rs. 100.
The Chief Minister said that he respects people of Balaghat very much since gender ratio is equal in this district. People here love their daughters.
