Naveen Patnaik orders Rs 62 crore bonus to kendu leaf pluckers

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has asked the authorities of the Forest and Environment department to provide a bonus of Rs 62 crore to 'kendu' leaf pluckers by June.

"The chief minister has directed the authorities to disburse Rs 62 crore as bonus to kendu leaf pluckers for 2015 harvest year by June," Forest and Environment Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha said today.

Kendu leaves are used in wrapping bidis.

Patnaik issued the direction while reviewing activities of the department on completion of two years of his government's fourth term yesterday.

Patnaik has also directed the department to implement Ama Jangal Yojana, a forest conservation scheme, in the state with an investment of Rs 1,170 crore by associating around 7,000 Vana Sanrakshan Samiti.