Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced financial aid of Rs 56 crore for the Kendu leaf beneficiaries of the state.

The financial assistance will be provided in third phase of the crop year 2022. Over 8 lakh Kendu leaf beneficiaries including Kendu leaf pluckers and binders will receive benefit due to the move.

The beneficiaries will receive the bonus and incentives in July this year.

Around 7.75 lakh Kendu leaf pluckers will get 25% bonus and 40,000 Kendu leaf binders and seasonal employees will be provided 5% incentive totaling to Rs 56.23 crore for 2022 crop year, the CMO release stated today.

The Government had provided total Rs 83.34 crore assistance (Rs 1000 each to Kendu leaf plucker and Rs 1500 each to binder and seasonal worker) in first phase for the 2022 crop year.

Similarly, Rs 111.21 crore was granted to Kendu leaf beneficiaries (Rs 1000 each towards assistance, Rs 200 each for water bottle, Rs 160 each for shoes) in the second phase of the crop year.

The total amount of assistance given to the kendu leaf pluckers and binders for the year 2022 including bonus, incentive amount, and financial assistance will be Rs 250.78 crore which is an all-time record in a single crop year.

Adding the third phase, the total financial aid being provided to Kendu leaf beneficiaroes will be Rs 250.78 crore, which is an all-time record in a single crop year.

Earlier, the Government had provided Rs 118.83 crore financial assistance and bonus amount to Kendu leaf pluckers in 2022 for the crop year 2021. The amount is 111% more than the previous crop year 2021.