Van Dhan Vikas Kendras - IndiaFilings

Van Dhan Vikas Kendras

The Van Dhan Vikas Kendras/Karyakram is a Government of India initiative. It is targeted towards improving the livelihood of tribal population. The focus and objective of the initiative is to harness the wealth of the forest for the benefit of society as a whole and also to the tribal population in particular. It is a joint effort of Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) and the Government of India. The program has ambitious plans to tap into the traditional skill sets and knowledge of tribal people. This is being planned by adding information technology and other technologies. This will help in upgrading of production and output of end product at each and every stage. It also will be helpful in converting tribal wisdom and experience into an economic activity that is remunerative. It is an ambitious initiative because it helps to leverage and also promote the overall strength of the tribal population and take the benefits and end results to a viable scale. The implementation of the scheme will be done through the Ministry of Tribal Affairs as they are the Nodal Department at the central level. At the state level, the District Collectors and the State Nodal Agencies for MFPs will play a major role in the implementation of the scheme at the grass-root level.

Objective of the Scheme

  • Provide more avenues to the tribal population for income earning.
  • Harness and develop their traditional skills and make them more economically remunerative.
  • Improve the commercial productivity of the tribal population by bringing to their doorsteps modern-day technology, including information technology.
  • Help the tribals in finding a readymade market for their produce so that they can see some economic benefit out of it.
  • Ensure that the living standards of tribal people are improved by giving them access to markets and also by helping them to harness their skills better.

Nature of Assistance

  • The scheme proposes to constitute 10 Self Help Groups (SHGs) consisting of 30 Tribal gatherers. Each of these SHGs will be trained and they also will be provided with working capital. The training and financial assistance will help in adding value to the products that are collected by the gatherers from the forest.
  • The SHGs will also be assisted in marketing their products. This will be done under the leadership of the respective Collectors. The marketing will be done within the state and also outside the state with the help of the right support and infrastructure. Big corporate houses will also be involved in the marketing process.
  • The SHG groups belonging to the tribal population will be trained on various aspects of livelihood. These include harvesting that is sustainable and ongoing, collection of the harvest, primary processing and finally adding value to it.

Thrust Areas

  • The thrust and focus will be on Minor Forest Produce (MFP). This is a vital and major source of livelihood for tribal living in forest areas. Around 100 million tribal people are dependent on MFPs for shelter, food, medicines and cash income. It is the life-line for primitive tribal groups such as landless and hunter-gatherers. Around 20 to 40% of the income is derived from MFP and therefore the focus will be in increasing the income potential of tribal that depends on MFPs for their survival. This segment alone has the potential of creating around 10 million workdays in the country on an annual basis.

Major MFPs that will be covered under this Scheme

There is a big list of MFPs that will be covered under the Van Dhan Vikas Kendras Karyakram. Here are a few of them:
  • Mahua seed and flower, chironjee, hill broom, tamarind, sal seed and sal leaves, honey, myrobalan, bamboo split, amchur (mango), churan/candy, tez patta, seed lac, black pepper, cardamom, dry ginger, turmeric, coffee, tea, cinnamon, sea buckthorn and a host of other such products.

Implementation of the Scheme

  • The 30-odd members under each self-help groups (SHGs) would be formed under the aegis Van Dhan Vikas Samuh. They would be trained and their existing skills in the respective areas would be honed and strengthened. These would include activities such as usage sieving tools and small cutting tools, dyers, decorators, packaging tools and other such equipment. This would depend on the MFPs that are available in various areas.
  • The Van Dhan Vikas Samuh also would have the following facilities:
    • Support for building and infrastructure. These will be established in one of the houses of the beneficiaries. It also could be gram panchayat buildings or a part of a government building.
    • Training with fully equipped infrastructure for each batch of 30 SHG groups of trainees. The raw material for the training purpose will also be provided. Trainee kits consisting of bag, scribbling pad, brochures, pen, booklet and training manual will also be provided.
    • Working capital assistance for the SHGs will also be provided. This will be done through tie-ups with banks, financial institutions, NSTFDCs and others.
Once the operations under the scheme are found to be successful, the scheme also envisages setting up of common and permanent infrastructure facilities. These include building, warehouse and other facilities for use by the samuh members. This will be done in the next phase

Sustainable and Profitable PPP Model

The end product after primary processing shall be supplied to the State Implementing Agencies by the SHGs. Direct tie-up with corporate secondary processors is also being planned. There is a need for the creation of a secondary and tertiary level of a facility at the taluka, district and state level. Big corporate shall be made a part of the PPP model. This model will be a judicious and well-thought-out strategy of using private entrepreneur skills for undertaking processing and also marketing the produce. Central and State Government support will also be provided by creating the required infrastructure and also by creating an enabling environment. These cumulative efforts will create the right value addition of various systematic scientific lines. There are also ambitious plans for sophisticated and large scale value addition hubs. These will be managed by private entrepreneurs. In fine The Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, over a period of time, will become important milestones in the economic development of the tribal population. It will benefit tribals who are into the collection of MFPs. It will help them in optimally utilizing the natural resources and also provide livelihood in the various MFP-rich districts of the country.
ARNOLD T
Updated on: December 17th, 2019

Popular Post

Download ePAN Card – Get ePan from NSDL & UTIITSL
80 Small Business Ideas

Starting a small business can be a transformative venture, offering the exciting opportunity...

Nadakacheri – Income Caste Certificate Download Online in Karnataka
TDS Rate Chart for Financial Year 2025-2026 (Assessment Year 2026-2027)

Tax deduction at source, shortly and popularly known as TDS, was introduced by the Income Tax...

Divorce Rules in India: Everything You Need to Know
How To Download GST Registration Certificate Online?

Goods & Services Tax Certificate is issued to people who are registered under GST...

PAN Card Cancellation Online
Find Complete Details of GST Registration Procedure

GST registration applies to all individuals and entities supplying goods or services in India. GST...

Check Your PF Claim Status Online Using PF Tracking ID
Gift Tax in India: Applicability, Exemptions and Rules

Gift tax in India is applied when the value of the received gift exceeds ₹50,000 in the...

Check Your PF Claim Status Online Using PF Tracking ID
Old Regime vs New Regime 2025: Which Tax Regime is Better for You?

The Union Budget 2025 has brought significant changes to India’s personal income tax structure, raising the...

Check Your PF Claim Status Online Using PF Tracking ID
What is the minimum turnover for GST?

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an indirect tax system introduced in India in 2017. It functions...

Check Your PF Claim Status Online Using PF Tracking ID
How can I check if a trademark is registered?

A trademark search is simply checking if another person or organization does not already own the...

Check Your PF Claim Status Online Using PF Tracking ID
Section 194H of the Income Tax Act: TDS on Commission & Brokerage

Section 194H of the Income Tax Act in India mandates the deduction of Tax at Source (TDS) on commission or brokerage...

Check Your PF Claim Status Online Using PF Tracking ID
Section 80G Deduction - Income Tax Act

Section 80G Deduction is a facility available in the Income Tax Act which allows taxpayers to...

Check Your PF Claim Status Online Using PF Tracking ID
Crypto Tax in India: Taxation On Cryptocurrency

The Income Tax Department (ITD) has not provided specific guidance on crypto taxes for Indian investors. However...

Check Your PF Claim Status Online Using PF Tracking ID
Internal Audit Applicability Under Companies Act, 2013

Internal audit applicability is a critical concept for companies in India, impacting various...

Check Your PF Claim Status Online Using PF Tracking ID
Difference between Private and Public Company

In the business world, two main types of companies exist: private company and public company...

Check Your PF Claim Status Online Using PF Tracking ID
New GST Rules for Rent

Ministry of Finance vide a Notification No 05/2022- Central Tax (Rate) dated 13.7.2022 has issued...

Check Your PF Claim Status Online Using PF Tracking ID
GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B Due Date Extension - New Due Dates For January 2025

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has recently announced an extension...

Check Your PF Claim Status Online Using PF Tracking ID
Different Depreciation Rates under Companies & Income Tax Act

Depreciation is a key concept in finance and accounting. It helps us manage how the value of...

Check Your PF Claim Status Online Using PF Tracking ID
Form 10IA - Section 80DD Deduction

Form 10IA of the Income Tax Department must be filed by taxpayers claiming income tax deduction...

Check Your PF Claim Status Online Using PF Tracking ID
GST on Used Cars: New 18% Tax Rate Explained

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) system in India has been a significant reform in the country's...

Check Your PF Claim Status Online Using PF Tracking ID
MSME Registration - Udyam Registration

India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) benefits significantly from the substantial...

Check Your PF Claim Status Online Using PF Tracking ID
Section 43B(h) - New MSME 45 Days Payment Rule

The Finance Act, 2023 introduced the MSME 45-day payment rule under Section 43B(h) of the Income Tax Act...

Check Your PF Claim Status Online Using PF Tracking ID
Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas (DTVSV) Scheme, 2024

The Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas (DTVSV) Scheme, 2024, was announced by Union Finance Minister...