'Bastar Imli' to tickle taste buds the world over

Raipur, May 28 (UNI) Gourmands the world over will now be able to taste 'Bastar Imli', a branded product made from delicious tamarind abundantly found in Chhattisgarh's tribal-dominated Bastar division.

The product would be marketed by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd (TRIFED) under the Centre's Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry.

TRIFED Managing Director Wilfred Lakda was in Bastar recently and conducted a meeting of officials associated with collection and marketing of tamarind. Guidelines were issued for drafting an action plan.

''Self-help groups active in Bastar can play a better role in marketing of forest produce and folk art,'' he said.

Bastar supplies 70 per cent of India's tamarind output and the 'imli' contains natural carbonic elements. TRIFED is drafting a scheme to similarly market honey, guava, lac, bellmetal, stonework, woodcarving, bamboo brooms and other products.

In Bastar's roughly 250 'haat' markets, more than six lakh tribal families sell agricultural and minor forest produce. The markets have a turnover to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore.

Due to the adivasis' illiteracy and simplicity, certain irresponsible and exploitative elements have begun taking advantage of the situation.

UNI SM-AC MP PM1515