The State Government has decided that it would give maximum participation to tribal people in the business of non-nationalized small forest produce and in the small scale industries based on these produce, said Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh while talking to the delegation of State Government which was on the tour of Andhra pradesh to study the business of small scale forest produce by the societies particularly that of Girijan Co-operative corporation limited (GCCL). The Delegation submitted a report in this regard to the Chief Minister.

It may be recalled that the GCCL is a very old society of forty-eight years in Andhra Pradesh and doing the business of small forest produce and doing the business of small forest produce and other products on large scale successfully. The GCCL purchases small forest produces of Rs.20 crore annually. Through its offices in sixteen districts and has value addition industries also for such produce .The GCCL has 2563 employee and a turnover of 130 crore .839 fair price shops all over the State out of hundred are being run by the women self help groups.

The Andhra Pradesh Government gives it a grant of Rs. 10-15 crore annually and quality of the products is maintained by the maximum participation of the self-help group.

The delegation included the Vice – Chairman of Baster development Authority Vikram Usendi, Vice Chairman of Sarguja-Jaspur Development Authority Shvpratap Singh, Chairman of State Small Forest Produce federation Murarilal singh, MLAs Lachhuram Kashyapp,Bharat sai, Ramsevak Paikra and others.

On the occasions the minister for SC /ST development Ramvichar Netam, Parliamentary Secretary Satyananad Rathiaya, Secretary to the chief minister Vivek Dhand, MD of Chhattishgar State small Forest Produce federation A K Sing, Deputy forest Conservation (Task force) B Anand Babu were also present.