Van Dhan Yojana: to generate livelihood & entrepreneurship opportunities for tribal forest gatherers

✅Background:

Van Dhan Vikas Kendras

✅1770 Van Dhan Kendras Sanctioned so Far in 22 States and One UT.

▪️About Van Dhan Vikas Kendras initiative:

✅The initiative aims to promote MFPs-centric livelihood development of tribal gatherers and artisans.

✅It mainstreams the tribal community by promoting primary-level value addition to MFP at the grassroots level.

▪️Significance:

✅Through this initiative, the share of tribals in the value chain of Non-Timber Forest Produce is expected to rise from the present 20% to around 60%.

▪️Implementation:

✅The scheme will be implemented through the Ministry of Tribal Affairs as Nodal Department at the Central Level and TRIFED as Nodal Agency at the National Level.
✅At the State level, the State Nodal Agency for MFPs and the District collectors are envisaged to play a pivot role in scheme implementation at the grassroots level.
✅Locally the Kendras are proposed to be managed by a Managing Committee (an SHG) consisting of representatives of Van Dhan SHGs in the cluster.

✅Composition: As per the plan, TRIFED will facilitate the establishment of MFP-led multi-purpose Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, a cluster of 10 SHGs comprising 30 tribal MFP gatherers each, in the tribal areas.

✅ Model state van dam yojana

Manipur has emerged as the Champion state where the Van Dhan programme has emerged as a major source of employment for the local tribals.

✅The Van Dhan Vikas Yojana is a programme for value addition, branding & marketing of Minor Forest Produces by establishing Van Dhan Kendras to facilitate the creation of sustainable livelihoods for the forest-based tribes.
✅It is a major scheme that has contributed to increasing employment and income generation among the tribal population.
✅The programme is implemented by TRIFED.

✅30,000+ Van Dhan Vikas Kendras sanctioned

✅Skill upgradation training to Minor Forest Produce gatherers

✅’Swasthya’ e-portal on tribal health and nutrition