(a) whether the Union Government is formulating any plan for preservation and promotion of minor forest produce;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the details of assistance being provided by the Union Government to State Governments for enhancement of minor forest produce?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI MAHADEO SINGH KHANDELA)
(a) As per the information received from Ministry of Panchayati Raj a Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. T. Haque had been set up to examine to consider among other things various issues relating to Minor Forest Produce.
(b) The Committee in its report has recommended that the Minimum Support Price for 14 major Minor Forest Produces be fixed centrally through a National agency. It has also made recommendations about value addition marketing, shifting away from monopoly, ownership and management by people, oversight by Gramsabha & Panchayats, sustainability & regeneration and expanding knowledgebase on MFP and Amendment in State Laws & Indian Forest Act etc.
(c) Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing Central Sector Scheme of Grants-in-Aid to State Tribal Development Cooperative Corporations (STDCCs) for Minor Forest Produce (MFP) Operations for increasing the quantum of MFP, setting up of scientific warehousing facilities, establishing processing industries for value addition and supplementing Research & Development efforts. The details of the funds released to the concerned states during the last three years is at Annexure.