TFP Bureau, Raipur, June 18, 2025: Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai will inaugurate the much-anticipated Charan Paduka distribution scheme on June 21 at Tapkara in Jashpur district. The scheme, aimed at providing free footwear to women of tendu leaf collector families, marks the fulfillment of a key promise made by the Chhattisgarh government.
The Charan Paduka scheme, which was discontinued by the previous administration, has been revived with a dedicated budget allocation of ₹40 crore. It will directly benefit over 12.4 lakh tendu leaf collector families across the state, enhancing their dignity and convenience while working in challenging forest areas.
Addressing the initiative, Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting the most vulnerable sections of society. “Tendu leaf collectors contribute significantly to the state’s economy through forest produce. This scheme is more than just footwear distribution; it symbolizes respect and security for these families,” he stated.
Tendu Leaf Collection Valued at ₹745 Crore
The tendu leaf collection season this year commenced in the third week of April and was completed successfully despite adverse weather conditions including untimely rains and hailstorms. Over 11.4 lakh collector families gathered 13.54 lakh standard bags of tendu leaves through 902 cooperative societies across 10,631 collection points (phadas).
The total purchase value of the collected tendu leaves amounts to ₹745 crore. More than ₹300 crore has already been credited directly to collectors’ bank accounts via the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, with the remaining payments in progress.
This launch highlights the state government’s dedication to the welfare, respect, and livelihood security of tendu leaf collector families, ensuring their contributions are recognized and supported.
