11 more Vanasree outlets planned

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Soon, the purest of forest produce will be available nearer your home if a plan of the Forest Department gets through. The Forest Department plans to open 11 more ‘Vanasree’ outlets for popularising forest produce, and the first one is expected to be opened at Nedumangad in the district.Forest Minister K B Ganesh Kumar announced the plans for Vanasree in the Assembly on Wednesday, adding that the outlet at Nedumangad would be opened once space was made available. ‘’We are ready to open an outlet at Nedumangad, provided we get space,’’ he said. Thiruvananthapuram city has a Vanasree outlet at the Forest headquarters. According to the Minister,  very few people are aware of the existence of the outlet at present.‘’Besides, the outlet is also short on forest produce. In many cases, customers are asked to write down the required produce in the register so that they can be made available,’’ the Minister said, replying to a question. The 11 outlets will be spread across the State, popularising forest produce and augmenting the income of the tribal communities. The Vanasree outlet at the Forest HQ at present has on sale a variety of produce, including ‘kudampuli’ (Gambooge, Malabar tamarind), honey molasses (‘vanthen’) and honey from small bee (‘cheruthen’).The outlet also as T-shirts and hats for avid trekkers. The Minister also urged all MLAs to urge tribal communities to discourage the practice of using middlemen in the marketing of forest produce.