Lok Sabha Question No. 3673 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-11
Subject: Permission for Forest Produce
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Sudhakar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3673

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025

## Permission for Forest Produce

## 3673.   SHRI SUDHAKAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that in some States including Madhya Pradesh, permissions/permits are issued to local forest dwellers for collection, storage and sale of Mahua, Piar and other medicinal forest products;
- (b) whether the Government has any plan to issue permits on similar lines to tribals in Bihar for collection and sale of Mahua, Piar and other traditional and medicinal forest products;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the details of the quantum of forest products produced in Bihar, especially in Kaimur district and the number of permits issued; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to take any special initiative for policy formulation in coordination with the State Government of Bihar in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) The right of ownership, access to collect, use, and dispose of all minor forest produce  traditionally  collected  by  forest  dwellers  is  recognized  as  per  the provisions  of  the  Scheduled  Tribes  and  Other  Traditional  Forest  Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

Further, in different States and UTs the Joint Forest Management Committees are allowed to collect Non Timber Forest produces.

- (b) to (e) As per the information provided by Government of Bihar, the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bihar vide its resolution No. 3698 dated 23-10-2003 has delegated the power to identify, collect, store, process and sell minor forest produce to the three tier local bodies namely Gram Panchayat, Panchayat  Samiti  and  Zila  Parishad.    The  collection  of  Non  Timber  Forest produces  from  forest  areas  in  Bihar  is  undertaken  through  Joint  Forest Management Committees as per approved working plan. Further, the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of Bihar vide its resolution No. 332 dated 28-01-2013 has appointed Bihar Vaniki Vikas

Nigam Limited as the agent of Panchayats for collection, storage and sale of kendu leaves.

As  per  the  information  provided  by  Government  of  Bihar,  the  quantity  of Kendu Leaves collected are as given below:

|   SN | Financial Year                  | Kendu leaves collection (in number of standard bags)   |
|------|---------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
|    1 | 2023-24                         | 47,686                                                 |
|    2 | 2024-25                         | 49,470                                                 |
|    3 | 2025-26 (till 31 st July, 2025) | 37,412                                                 |

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