Ahead of Assembly polls in five states, Congress today termed as a "major step" the conferment of the right to collect Tendu leaves and bamboo with minor forest produce to Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.
Releasing a note on the scheme of mechanism for marketing of non-timber forest produce (NTFP) through fair and remunerative price, Tribal Affairs Minister Kishore Chandra Deo said at the AICC briefing today claimed this is an "epoch making" development.
"We definitely expect that they (tribals) will respond positively... No body else has done for them what we have done for the tribals so far," .
Around 100 million forest dwellers depend on minor forest produces for their livelihood.
Deo's assertions at a press briefing here came as the campaign for Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, where tribals have a sizable population has started picking up.
The senior Congress leader also said that the problem of Naxalism cannot be solved unless the development aspects are addressed.
In a Maoist attack in Bastar region in Chhattisgarh, almost entire leadership of Congress was wiped out few months back during party's Parivartan Yatra after which there was some tough talk on tackling Naxals.
