Orissa govt increases kendu leaves collection price

Orissa government today raised the collection of Kendu leaves per kerry from 29 to 34 paise.

The decision was taken at the Kendu leaves Advisory Committee meeting chaired by state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

This was highest one time rise in prices of Kendu leaves collection during the last decade.

A Kerry is a bundle of 20 Kendu leaves.

Official sources here said the enhancement of kendu leave collection charge would benefit more than 7.5 lakh Kendu leave pluckers.

A notification regarding the new rate of Kendu leaves would be published before the end of this month.

The government had also increased the price of growers leaves produced in Athamallik, Rairakhol and Sambalpur region from Rs 1600 per quintal last year to Rs 1900 this year.

The meeting was also informed that a sum of Rs 40 lakh had been distributed to the kins of 80 Kendu leave pluckers who have lost their lives last year through the Kendu leave Welfare Trust.