Somebody, save us from our benefactor

In 1964, the Madhya Pradesh government nationalised the tendu leaf used in bidi-making to stop exploitation of the tendu gathering tribals by private traders. Nearly five decades later, the tribals now get just Rs 65 for collecting, drying and packaging 1,000 leaves in a day, way less than the daily wage of even an unskilled labourer. It is the state that they need saving from!