Tribals in Madhya Pradesh’s Dindori earn ₹42 lakh by collecting borer beetles to protect forests

Tribal families in Madhya Pradesh's Dindori district earned nearly ₹42 lakh between June and July 30 by collecting over 2.1 million sal borer beetles.

The forest department drive pays villagers ₹2 per beetle under an ongoing trap tree operation to reduce the adult beetle population.

More than 400 to 500 tribal families participated in the initiative, collecting beetles from trap trees and submitting them to the forest department.

The infestation has affected over 1.47 lakh sal trees across nearly 30,000 hectares in East Karanjia, West Karanjia, South Samnapur, and Bajag ranges.

Forest officials have sought permission to fell more than 1.47 lakh infected trees to contain the epidemic, which represents 15% of the district's sal forests.