Baghel praised the processing work of Singi Mahila Group.
Raipur, 29 August 2020. MLA Jashpur Mr. Vinay Bhagat paid courtesy call on Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel at his residence office here today. During the meeting with the Chief Minister, MLA Shri Bhagat presented him with a ‘Jashpur Madhukam’ sanitizer made from Mahua flower by the local women’s self-help group. The Chief Minister described the sanitizer of the naturally produced Mahua flower as being very chemical-free and praised the efforts of the Singhi women’s self-help group involved in its processing. Singi women’s self-help group is working at the Panchakki Van Dhan Kendra near Jashpur Nagar.
The Chief Minister said that small forest produce is stored in abundance in the state. Keeping in mind the interest of the forest dwellers, the state government has also extended the scope of procurement at the minimum support price of minor forest produce. Till the year 2018, only 7 minor forest produce were purchased, which has now been increased to 31. Due to this, tribal and forest dwellers have started getting more and more benefits of collecting small and minor forest produce throughout the year. Every possible initiative is being taken by the state government to provide benefits of collection as well as processing of minor forest produce. Among these, self-help groups of the forest centers are being encouraged to provide necessary facilities. As a result of this, tribal-forest dwellers in the state have started getting a lot of income along with employment.
During this period, Chief Minister Baghel asked to encourage women groups who are making sanitizers from Mahua flower in its other processing works. He said that the processing work with collection of minor forest produce will benefit the groups more. Shri MLA Shri Bhagat informed the Chief Minister about making sanitizer from Mahua flower by Singi women self-help group and besides joining Mahua Laddoo etc. in processing work. The Chief Minister expressed happiness and appreciated the interest and perseverance of the women of Singhi Self-Help Group in processing of forest produce.
