Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Dr Mohan Yadav will visit Mandla on Sunday to attend a training-cum-awareness and incentive remuneration bonus distribution programme organised for members of primary forest produce cooperative societies.

During the programme, CM Dr Yadav will distribute a tendu leaf bonus of ₹36.17 crore among 904,126 tendu leaf collectors. Participants and beneficiaries will include tendu leaf collectors associated with the East Mandla, West Mandla, Dindori, Jabalpur, North Seoni, South Seoni, North Balaghat and South Balaghat forest divisions.

The programme has been organised with a focus on strengthening the economic interests of tendu leaf collectors and families dependent on forest produce, while recognising and rewarding their contribution to the forest-based economy.

₹26.56 crore timber dividend for 84 forest committees

Alongside the tendu leaf bonus, the Chief Minister will distribute a timber dividend of ₹26.56 crore to members of 84 forest committees.

The timber dividend will cover a total of 84 forest committees from the East Mandla and West Mandla forest divisions. The initiative is aimed at extending financial benefits from forest produce activities to communities associated with the cooperative forest management system.

The distribution of both the tendu leaf bonus and timber dividend is expected to provide financial support to thousands of families whose livelihoods are linked to the collection and management of forest produce.

CM to inaugurate development projects in Pandhurna

CM Dr Yadav will also travel to Pandhurna district, where he will inaugurate several development works and perform bhoomi pujan for various projects.

During his visit, the Chief Minister will also attend the “Seva Mera Yogdan” programme at Sandipani School in Pandhurna. In addition, he will participate in a meeting of the District Development Advisory Committee.

The Mandla programme comes as part of efforts to strengthen the economic interests of forest produce collectors and acknowledge the role played by forest-dependent communities. The distribution of the bonus and timber dividend is expected to provide direct financial benefits to the beneficiaries covered under the respective forest divisions and committees.