Tribals Initiative "EMPOWER IAS"

Context: 

• TRIFED under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs will be launching Tech for Tribals initiative for providing skill upgradation and entrepreneurial capacity. 

 

Key takeaways

• Aim of the initiative: Holistic development of tribals with a focus on entrepreneurship development, soft skills, IT, and business development through SHGs operating through Van Dhan Kendras (VDVKs).
• TRIFED has tied up with national institutions such as IIT, Kanpur; Art of Living, Bangalore; TISS, Mumbai; KISS, Bhubaneswar; Vivekananda Kendra, Tamil Nadu and SRIJAN, Rajasthan.
• Vandhan-ESDP Training Programs shall be conducted under these institutes.

 

About Tech for Tribals initiative: 

• It aims at the holistic development of tribals with a focus on entrepreneurship development, soft skills, IT, and business development through SHGs operating through Van Dhan Kendras (VDVKs).
• It is a unique program to make tribals of India “Aatmanirbhar”, focussing to bridge the gap between tribal entrepreneurs and urban markets.
• The beneficiaries will undergo a 30 days program with a training module developed by IIT, Kanpur.

 

Significance:

• The expected outcome shall be successful, aspiring and confident tribal entrepreneurs ready to compete with the best products in the market with feasible business plans. 
• This program will mainly entail three aspects of development for sustainable entrepreneurship 
  • Engagement, 
  • Capacity Building, and 
  • Market linkages. 
• This will lead to the path of commercialization of the tribal entrepreneurs.

 

Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY)

• Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY) is a retail marketing led value addition plan for Minor Forest Produce (MFP), meant for forest-based tribes to optimize the tribal income, locally.
• Under the program, MFP-based tribal groups / enterprises of around 300 members are formed for collection, value addition, packaging & marketing of Minor Forest Produces (MFPs)
• These tribal enterprises will be in the form of Van Dhan SHGs which will be a group of 15-20 members and such 15 SHG groups will further be federated into a larger group of Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKS) of around 300 members.