The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) has announced a major initiative under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission’ (PMJVM).
TRIFED has sanctioned a total of Rs. 587.36 crores for the establishment of 3958 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) across various states in India. These VDVKs, which are clusters of tribal Self Help Groups (SHGs), aim to enhance the livelihoods of tribal communities through value addition and marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFPs) and non-MFPs.
The initiative aims to empower tribal communities by providing them with the necessary infrastructure and support to scale up their operations.
The VDVKs will help in the aggregation, value addition, and marketing of various products, ensuring better prices and market access for tribal producers.
Among the states, Andhra Pradesh leads with the establishment of 415 VDVKs, followed by Assam with 471, and Rajasthan with 479. The states have been allocated funds accordingly, with Rajasthan receiving Rs. 7,135.60 lakhs, Andhra Pradesh Rs. 6,162.90 lakhs, and Assam Rs. 7,065 lakhs. In total, these VDVKs are expected to benefit 11,83,412 tribal beneficiaries nationwide.
Notably, the smallest allocations have been made to Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, with one VDVK sanctioned and Rs. 15 lakhs allocated, benefitting 302 people.
The announcement was made by Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Durgadas Uikey, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
The government also provided details of the commodities covered under MFPs with their respective Minimum Support Price (MSP) and applicable regions.
This initiative represents a significant step towards enhancing the socio-economic status of tribal communities in India, providing them with the tools and opportunities to thrive.
