Nabarangpur: The Odisha Kendu Leaf Employees’ Association, Nabarangpur Branch, held a meeting on Saturday at the Rikishan Premium Mandap. During the meeting, ten key demands of the association were discussed. Later, members of the association held a rally and submitted a memorandum of demands addressed to the Chief Minister through the Kendu Leaf DFO, Ghanashyam Mohanty.
The memorandum highlights several issues, including a reduction of Rs. 50 crore from the sanctioned Rs. 100 crore budget meant for the welfare of Kendu leaf pluckers and workers, delays and neglect in providing assistance for girls’ marriages despite government announcements, and the non-implementation of minimum wage increases that were declared in July. The formation of KLD Boards has also been criticized as flawed.
Delays in disbursing other social security financial assistance and neglect in implementing provisions related to Kendu leaf collection have also been mentioned. The association has warned that if these demands are ignored, DFO offices across the state will be gheraoed.
Under the leadership of association president Bijay Mohanty, sit-in protests are being held in 19 divisions across Odisha. General Secretary Sanjit Mohanty has also warned of further agitation if the demands are not fulfilled. State Secretary Mohammad Murtuza supported the initiative. Copies of the memorandum have been submitted to the Forest Minister, Additional Chief Secretary, and PCCF.
Prominent participants in the protest and gherao programs included organizational secretary Sanjit Mohanty, state secretary Mohammad Murtuza, media coordinator Debjyoti Pattnayak, youth leader Dharmendra Adhikari, division secretary Bhagirath Bishoyi, Jagannath Satapathy, assistant secretary, and representatives from Nabarangpur and other divisions such as Kokila Nayak, Laxmi Bishoyi, Ramchandra Bishoyi, Rajesh Kuldeep, Sanjeeb Gand, Lairam Guinta, Yodha Suna, Lambudhar Satapathy, Basudev Nayak, Shobha Sundar Giri, Gomati Nayak, Arati Harijan, Shakuntala Majhi, Mudrika Bag, and Tilottama Pujari.
The meeting also noted that despite rising costs, the price hike for Kendu leaves has not been implemented. The association demanded that the canceled 18% GST on Kendu leaf collections be refunded by the central and state governments and redirected to provide support to pluckers and employees through social schemes.