Bhubaneswar: Expressing dissatisfaction over the performance of the state government on execution of the Central scheme for ensuring fare price of forest products, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram has written to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Oram urged the state government to expedite the process on execution of the scheme-Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Development of Value Chain of MFP, otherwise return the unutilised funds with interest.
The Centre has provided `49.41 crore to state under the scheme as revolving fund in 2014 to undertake procurement towards implementation of the scheme. But, during last four years only `3.80 crore was utilised, Oram said in his letter.
As per the scheme, the state government has to provide MSP to the tribals at the haat bazaar level, where they bring their forest products for sale.
Managing director of Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd (TRIFED) and a team of officials from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs had a meeting with Chief Secretary last September 15 to discuss the scheme and its implementation. However, the progress is not satisfactory despite repeated follow up by the centre, the Union minister mentioned.
“In case the state decides to follow alternate methods to benefit tribals in this sector, I suggest that the unutilised funds may please be refunded with accrued interest along with an audit report so that the same can be optimally utilised in states which are implementing the scheme,” Oram added.
PNN