CM Naveen Requests Centre To Withdraw GST On Kendu Leaves

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has appealed to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to revoke the 18% GST imposed on kendu leaves.

Patnaik claimed in a letter to Sitharaman that kendu leaves, a Minor Forest Product (MFP), are the main source of income for about 8 lakh kendu leaf pluckers, binders, and seasonal workers in Odisha, most of whom are members of the tribal community and the poorest members of society.

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act of 2006 define the tribal people’s right to collect the leaves as one of their rights. He asserted that they are entitled to collect and market these goods.

A bonus of Rs 1,000 for each plucker and Rs 1,500 for each seasonal employee and binders in the first phase was announced by Patnaik on November 23.

These developments happened ahead of the approaching byelection for the Padampur Assembly seat in the Bargarh district on December 5.

Notably, Bargarh district has a high concentration of kendu leaf growing areas.