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| Is this how Omar Abdullah will solve the unemployment problem? | | Ban on extraction of MFP deprives rural population of livelihood | | Asif Iqbal Naik
Jammu, Nov 30: Contrary to the claims of successive state governments of finding the ways and means to resolve the unemployment problem across the state, the ban on extraction of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) on which thousands of people depend in mountainous districts of Kishtwar, Ramban, Doda and other districts of Jammu as well as those of Kashmir province has deprived them of their livelihood.
The ban on the extraction of MFP has virtually exposed thousands of villagers in far flung areas of Jammu and Kashmir and particularly in Chenab region where the trade flourished day by day before the decision of the government pushed the trade into dark. The villagers in entire Chenab valley residing in higher reaches were solely dependent on the extraction but the ban on it has exposed them to all sorts of hardships.
The extraction of herbs were carried by the locals especially females to earn their livelihood in those remote areas of demarcated forest of J&K state and royalty was paid on the extracted stocks to the forest department at the time of transportation.
With the imposition of ban on extraction, the herbal industry in Kishtwar for processing of herbs duly registered by DIC Doda for processing of herbs (MFP) has automatically gone sick after imposition of ban on extraction of herbs.
The source of income of these people living on higher reaches was nothing except the forest produce which they collected from their surrounding areas of forest to sell and earn the livelihood. During extraction period nearly 6000 souls were benefited @ Rs. 3000/ per month in 2001-2003 only in Chenab region, but in Jammu and Kashmir, it is well beyond 30-40 thousands.
The extraction process of these minor forest produces in the adjoining state of Himachal Pradesh is going on for the last two decades from demarcated forest by locals to earn their livelihood & boost the economy of rural as well as backward areas of state. The employees working Herbal industry said that the hilly & remote backward areas are more in J&K State than Himachal Pradesh but some Officers who hailed from Himachal Pradesh and were at the helm of affairs in our state during 2004 prepared a DPR to ban the extraction of MFP in Jammu Kashmir so that trade in Himachal gets a boost.
The proprietor of Herbal Industry that is now a sick unity- Rakesh Gupta said that the people of far flung areas used to earn their livelihood and the ban on the extraction has exposed them to starvation. He said that the employees who were working here are also faced with enormous problems.
"Some of the employees who used to work here later joined militancy in desperation when the ban on extraction was imposed," Rakesh Gupta added. Gupta referred to slain LeT commander Nisar. Nasir also used to gather herbs from forest and earns money for himself and his family.
"It is not out of place to mention here that the youth who were engaged in collection of MFP from the forests were deprived of their livelihood by way of closure of my unit," he said and added that besides the ban imposed on extraction of MFP; they saw no other way and took to guns. Gupta referred to slain LeT commander Nisar. Nasir also used to gather herbs from forest and earns money for himself and his family. He said that when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took reign of popular government in Jammu and Kashmir, They also approached him at Kishtwar who (Omar) according to Mr. Gupta assured him that he (Omar) will considered the revocation of Ban on extraction of MFP's. Mr. Gupta said that even Forest Minister in his interview with BBC radio assured that the government will lift the said ban. Gupta said that despite assurances from CH and Forest minister, nothing has been done on ground and even after completion of 5 year period of ban on extraction of MFP's, the government did not intimate the forest department about his decision whether the ban has been extended or not, which ultimately makes its impact on poor people of rural populace who are depended on this trade.
The govt. of India has introduced a mission of cultivation of herbs but in Jammu & Kashmir it was only up to some limit as no such project was introduced to locals by the state medicinal plants board since last five years.
The lone industrial unit in Kishtwar came under the heavy burden of financial crises as due to ban the extracted and finished stocks could not be transported in the market on time due to undue restrictions by the officers who wanted to sabotage the herbal trade of J&K and the properties of medicinal herb which loses its market with the passage of time and added to the miseries of the unit holder and a great financial loss was suffered on this account too.
The unit holder said that the unit came under heavy pressure during the previous regime and hoped some sort of relief from the Omar led Government.
"It is not only me but all those who used to work in the unit hope for the better," Rakesh Gupta said and added that the unit used to provide bread and butter to thousands of people but with the ban on extraction and transportation of MFPs the villagers have suffered enormously.
He said that they approached the Govt. in previous regime for revival /rehabilitation but all their efforts yielded no results for them. "Our majority stocks hydro Diasogene which was processed out of Diascoria came to zero as imported stocks of china were displayed in market which also resulted in our investments to zero, as no rehabilitation / incentives were paid to us before or after imposition of ban. We have lost ours investment as well as the advances paid to the labour mates at the time of imposition of ban on the extraction," Rakesh Gupta added. |
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