Parliament Question: Permission for Forest Produce

OIH 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 VikasNigam 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 31st July, 2025) 37,412 ****