The Odisha Legislative Assembly’s monsoon session featured lively discussions during the Question Hour, where BJD MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain inquired about the livelihoods, guidelines, wage structure, and incentive payments for Kendu leaf binding workers, known as Kendu Patra Bandhali Shramik, throughout the state.
In response, Minister for Forest, Environment, and Climate Change, Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia, presented a comprehensive statistical report that detailed employment figures across 14 districts, wage rates over the last five years, and the distribution of incentives.
District-Wise Employment Statistics in Odisha
According to the data provided by the Minister, there are currently 11,004 Kendu leaf binding workers engaged across various districts in the state.
- Balangir leads the state with the highest number of workers, employing 3,424 individuals.
- Baragada follows with 1,330 workers.
- Anugola and Boudh employ 1,120 and 1,060 workers, respectively.
- Other districts with significant worker presence include Sambalpur (898), Jharsuguda (488), Deogarh (470), Sundaragada (404), Kandhamala (400), Nuapada (270), Kalahandi (228), and Kendujhar (222).
- Notably, Koraput and Nabarangpur recorded no worker engagements during this period.
Wage Rate Trends Over Five Years
The Forest Ministry provided a table detailing the payment rates per bag and per bundle for binding workers across five crop years:
- 2022 Crop Year: Rs 1,270.48 per bag | Rs 104.04 per bundle
- 2023 Crop Year: Rs 1,289.04 per bag | Rs 105.42 per bundle
- 2024 Crop Year: Rs 1,289.04 per bag | Rs 105.42 per bundle
- 2025 Crop Year: Rs 1,366.94 per bag | Rs 110.64 per bundle
- 2026 Crop Year: Rs 1,424.94 per bag | Rs 122.99 per bundle
The data indicates a steady increase in payment per unit for binding workers over the five-year span.
Incentive Fund Allocation
Addressing questions regarding bonus distributions, the Minister outlined the incentive funds allocated to workers over the past five years:
- In 2021, Rs 4.04 crore was shared among 16,407 workers.
- In 2022, Rs 2.59 crore was distributed to 11,444 workers.
- In 2023, Rs 4.18 crore benefited 13,021 workers.
- In 2024, Rs 4.88 crore was allocated for 10,409 workers.
- In 2025, Rs 2.23 crore was disbursed to 14,284 workers.
The Minister emphasized that the government has implemented clear regulatory measures to ensure consistent employment, transparent wage calculations, and financial incentives for forest-dependent workers across Odisha.
