Lok Sabha Question No. 136 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-18
Subject: Minor Forest Produce (MFP)
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Achyutananda Samanta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.136

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.11.2019

## MINOR FOREST PRODUCE (MFP)

## 136. SHRI ACHYUTANANDA SAMANTA:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

- (a) the  details  of  the  grants  released  during  the  last  3  years  under  the 'Mechanism  for  Marketing  of  Minor  Forest  Produce  (MFP)  through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Development of Value Chain for MFP' Scheme;
- (b) the  details  of  the  funds  for  development  and  modernisation  of  haats, creation,  expansion  of  storage  and  trading  facilities,  and  capacity building;
- (c) whether the aforementioned grants are close to the budget allocated under the Scheme, and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the details of the number of modernised haats, new/expanded storage facilities  created  under  the  scheme,  and  whether  this  number  is adequate, if not, the steps to be taken to modernise such infrastructure?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SMT. RENUKA SINGH SARUTA)

(a)& (b):  Under  the  scheme  of  'Mechanism  for  Marketing  of  Minor  Forest Produce  (MFP)  through  Minimum  Support  Price  (MSP)  and  Development  of Value Chain for MFP', government provides funds to State Governments for storage facilities  for  tribal  produce  procured  from  the  Minor  Forest  Produce gatherers. However, State Governments are expected to procure the notified Minor  Forest  Produce  only  in  the  event  of  its  market  price  falling  below  its notified Minimum Support Price. Details of the grants released during the last 3 years is at annexure .

(c):    The  Scheme  is  implemented  through  a  State  level  agency  (SLA) appointed  by  the  State  Govt.  The  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs,  Govt.  of  India provides fund to the SLA for procurement of MFP items and also for creation of infrastructure and modernization of Haats in the ratio of 75:25 Central and State shame respectively. Loss, if any, is  also shared by Centre and State in the  ratio  of  75:25.  Presently,  the  scheme  has  coverage  of  49  MFPs  and  is applicable  to  all  states.  The  scheme  being  demand  driven,  funds  are released as per requirement. Details of the BE, RE and Expenditure during the last 3 years is as below:

(Rs. In Cr.)

| Year    |   Budget Estimates |   Revised Estimate |   Expenditure (As on 11.11.2019 |
|---------|--------------------|--------------------|---------------------------------|
| 2016-17 |                158 |               3    |                            2    |
| 2017-18 |                100 |              25    |                            8.59 |
| 2018-19 |                130 |              97.47 |                           96.85 |

The scheme being demand driven, decrease of funds is directly dependent on the number of proposals received from the States.

(d):  This scheme being demand driven, funds are released to the State Nodal Agencies against demand received. The State Nodal Agencies are required to produce  Utilization  Certificate  (UC)  in  respect  of  funds  availed  by  them  for creation of infrastructure. Subsequent  demand  of  States  for creation of infrastructure are considered only upon receipt of UC from them in respect of funds released earlier. As the scheme is implemented by State Government, the data with regard to infrastructure created under the scheme is not maintained centrally.

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## ANNEXURE

Statement in reply to parts (a) and (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 136 regarding 'Minor Forest Produce (MFP)' raised by SHRI ACHYUTANANDA SAMANTA for answer on 18.11.2019.

(Rs. In lakh)

| S. No.      | State          | Funds released in 2016-17   | Funds released in 2016-17   | Funds Released in 2017-18   | Funds Released in 2017-18   | Funds released in 2018-19   | Funds released in 2018-19   |
|-------------|----------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
| S. No.      | State          | General                     | Capital                     | General                     | Capital                     | General                     | Capital                     |
| 1           | Chhattisgarh   | -                           | -                           | -                           | 89.41                       | 0.00                        | 197.31                      |
| 2           | Gujarat        | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           | 122.00                      | 497.37                      |
| 3           | Jharkhand      | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           |                             |
| 3           | Jharkhand      | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           |                             |
| 4           | Maharashtra    | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           |                             |
| 5           | Andhra Pradesh | -                           | -                           | 300.00                      | -                           | -                           | 709.50                      |
| 6           | Madhya Pradesh | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           | 2,681.25                    |
| 7           | Odisha         | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           |
| 8           | Rajasthan      | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           |
| 9           | West bengal    | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           | 201.72                      | 455.44                      |
| 10          | Manipur        | -                           | -                           | 10.50                       | -                           | -                           | 90.00                       |
| 11          | Nagaland       | -                           | -                           | 19.16                       | -                           | -                           | 65.80                       |
| 12          | Uttar Pradesh  | -                           | -                           | 240.00                      | -                           | -                           | 821.25                      |
| 13          | Kerala         | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           | 59.74                       | 357.75                      |
| 14          | Karnataka      | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           | 124.60                      | -                           |
| 15          | Assam          | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           | 30.24                       | 124.33                      |
| 16          | Tripura        | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           |
| Sub Total   | Sub Total      | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 569.66                      | 89.41                       | 538.30                      | 6,000.00                    |
| 17          | TRIFED         | 200.00                      | 0.00                        | 200.00                      | 0.00                        | 3,147.00                    | 0.00                        |
| Grand Total | Grand Total    | 200.00                      | 0.00                        | 769.66                      | 89.41                       | 3,685.30                    | 6,000.00                    |

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