Insurance cover for 8 lakh kendu leaf pluckers in Odisha

"About 7.8 lakh kendu leaf pluckers and 20,000 binders in 19 Kendu Leaf divisions will get insurance cover. The state government will contribute Rs 8 crore for the purpose," said forest and environment minister Bebi Prasad Mishra.

The insurance was launched by covering at least 1,000 beneficiaries from Angul Kendu Leaf Division. "All the kendu leaf pluckers and binders will be covered by October this year," the minister said.

The Divisional Forest Officers of concerned Kendu Leaf divisions will act as