Harra will be purchased at minimum support price in Chhattisgarh 03-09-2014
RAIPUR: The government has declared nationalised
forest produce ‘Harra’ as non-nationalised small forest produce. The state
government has made preparations for purchase of Harra in the forest areas of
Chhattisgarh.
According to an official press statement, the central
government this year has declared minimum support price of Harra Rs 11 per kg
or Rs 1,100 per quintal for the collectors of the produce. The state government
has decided to procure Harra at minimum support price through Primary Forest
Produce Cooperative Committees this year.
Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand, in a circular issued here
on Tuesday, informed all district collectors, divisional forest officers and
managing directors of district forest produce cooperative unions. In the
circular, the chief secretary instructed the officers to ensure all necessary
measures for procurement of Harra in the wider interest of Harra collector
villagers and forest-dweller families.
He said that the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry and the
Chhattisgarh Government have decided to purchase Harra in the state at minimum
support price scheme. For that notification for declaring Harra as
non-nationalised forest produce had been issued on August 19 last. As it was a
nationalised forest produce, the total quantity of Harra has been procured in
the state through Primary Forest Product Cooperative Societies. Now, as it has
been non-nationalised, any person can purchase or sell it, but guidelines have
been issued to officers to procure it at minimum support price, so that harra
collectors get more benefit from it.
The chief secretary has made it clear that at any
cost, harra coming from other states should not be purchased under this scheme.
Besides, it should be ensured that no trader purchase the produce from the
primary collectors at low cost and include in the government procurement in the
fake name of primary collectors. For that forest department, police and
district administration have to keep coordinated vigil.
He said that it should be kept in mind that Harra
purchased from other states at cheap rate should not be sold at the prescribed
minimum support price in Chhattisgarh. For the sudden inspection of it,
collectors should form flying squads.
It has been mentioned in the circular that for the
purchase of Harra, Union Tribal Affairs Ministry would give 75 per cent amount
and the remaining 25 per cent amount by the Chhattisgarh government. Separate
bank account will be opened at Forest Produce Federation level for the Harra
procurement scheme. Similarly, bank accounts opened at District Forest Produce
Cooperative Union level and Primary Forest Produce Cooperative Societies level
for procurement of Saal seed, will be used for Harra procurement also.
Primary Forest Produce Cooperative Societies will
decide collection centres for purchase of Harra at minimum support price. One
Phad Munshi, selected from local persons, will be deployed on each collection
centre. Women self help groups could also be appointed as Phad Munshi.
The chief secretary said that the payment of Harra
procurement would be made like that of tendupatta payment, i.e. up to Rs 500
cash and over Rs 500 through bank account of the villagers. |