Andhra Pradesh pitches for more forest produce under MSP ambit: Deputy CM P Pushpa Srivani

Vijayawada: Deputy Chief Minister (tribal welfare) P Pushpa Srivani appealed to the Union minister for tribal welfare Arjun Munda to allocate additional funds to the state for providing minimum support price (MSP) for the forest products collected by the tribals all over the state.

Participating in a video conference organised by the Union tribal welfare minister, Srivani urged him to include some more forest products like turmeric, pineapple and rajma which are cultivated by the Girijans in the MSP list and also allot more Van Dhan Kendras to the state.

She said that the state government has been providing medical facilities to the tribals in the remote forest areas through telemedicine facility by giving necessary training to ASHA workers, ANMs and health workers.

The minister said that the Union ministry for tribal affairs sanctioned Rs 8.28 crore for providing MSP for the forest produce out of which Rs 5.28 crore has been allocated to Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) and Rs 3 crore to Girijan farmers' self-help groups as revolving fund.

She said that proposals have been sent to sanction Rs 19.05 crore through TRIFED in the present financial year.

Expressing satisfaction over the working of Van Dhan Kendras, Srivani said that 75 such kendras with 21,280 tribals under ITDAs are working in the state. Proposals have been sent to sanction 15 more such kendras in the state with 4,500 Girijans.

The Girijan Cooperative Corporation has been manufacturing 20,000 soaps in its two factories, she informed the Union minister appealing him to market the soaps at national level by purchasing them from the GCC.

Principal secretary of tribal welfare M Ravichandra, director Ranjit Basha and others were also present.