A contractor weighs a bundle of grass that members of the Katkari tribe from Palghar district cut in exchange of `80 per quintal. (Photo: Debashish Dey)Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis gave an assurance on Monday that the cutting of grass in tribal areas would be listed as a bona fide profession under the state Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS). On Sunday, The Asian Age had reported how grass-cutting — which helps them earn Rs 80 per quintal per day — is the only regular source of income that tribal people in Palghar district have. Now, once grass-cutting becomes a part of the EGS, a worker will be able to earn around Rs 182 a day. EGS minister Jaykumar Rawal, too, said that the work would be included in the newly-launched Samruddha Maharashtra Jankalyan Yojana. Plus, women and child development minister Pankaja Munde, while speaking with this newspaper, said that all eight departments China ball button feeder related to the issue of malnutrition in Palghar need to be converged in order to effectively combat the societal menace.

Ms Munde added that she had discussed this idea with public health minister Dr Deepak Sawant. “It will take time to create a separate mechanism (to address the issues tribal people face). In the meantime, the grass-cutting work that scheduled tribes in Palghar district undertake to meet their daily expenses should be included in the EGS scheme,” Ms Munde said. She added that she would follow up on her proposal with the state cabinet for its final approval.Meanwhile, taking cognisance of The Asian Age reports on malnutrition published on Sunday, Mr Fadnavis said: “The grass-cutting work performed by the poorest-of-the-poor Katkari tribe and other scheduled tribe communities would be included in the EGS.”

Mr Rawal — who had introduced Samruddha Maharashtra Jankalyan Yojana at Sahyadri guesthouse in the presence of the chief minister — said that he would do whatever was in his power to make earning opportunities available for tribal people.Mr Rawal — who was the chairman of the state EGS committee prior to being inducted as a cabinet minister before the monsoon session — said: “We have introduced a new scheme, which will change the fortunes of rural Maharashtra. We will include grass cutting by tribal people in this scheme, so that they can earn a healthy amount.” He added that he had prepared a draft of the EGS, adding: “I want to bring changes in the EGS so that we can provide money for those jobs that have a demand among workers. If tribal people from Palghar district have no work other than grass cutting, and if they are exploited by the contractors, the job will be included in the EGS.”