Centre to fix support prices for 10 forest produce: Oram

The central government would soon announce minimum support prices for 10 minor forest produce to protect tribals from exploitation, union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said here Sunday.

"The 10 items include Sal seed, Mahua flower and tamarind," he told reporters. The minister said the centre would direct all the concerned to purchase these items from tribals at the minimum support prices fixed by the government.

"If anybody does not pay the the support prices, it will be considered as an offence," he said.

It was Oram's first visit to his home state Odisha after being inducted in the union cabinet by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Oram said the priority of his ministry was to create and improve education, health care, communication, electrification, irrigation and other infrastructure in tribal dominated areas.

On the proposed Khandadhar mining project in his home district Sundergarh, which he has been opposing since it was mooted in 2007, Oram said his stand on the matter remains unchanged.

"My stand on mining in Khandadhar hills remains unchanged," he said, adding that if necessary he would take up the matter with the concerned ministry.

On the issue of displacement of tribals, Oram said he was personally opposed to any project that displaces and harms environment. "I am for zero displacement."