Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey informed Lok Sabha today that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs through its two agencies namely Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) & National Scheduled Tribes Finance & Development Corporation (NSTFDC) is providing support to individuals belonging to tribal communities across India in the areas of livelihood, entrepreneurship and income generation.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM)’ through TRIFED which envisions to strengthen tribal entrepreneurship initiatives and to facilitate livelihood opportunities by promoting more efficient, equitable, self-managed, optimum use of natural resources, Agri / Minor Forest Produce (MFPs) / Non-farm produce. Under the scheme, financial support of Rs. 15.00 lakhs is provided to the State Governments for setting up each Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) which are the centers of value addition activities of MFPs/Non-MFPs. Since the inception of the program in 2019-20, 495 VDVKs have been sanctioned with funds amounting to Rs. 7425 lakhs, associating 1,50,765 members in Assam. Out of these, 359 VDVKs have been reported as operationalized with reported sales of Rs. 1623.36 lakh.
Additionally, TRIFED provides backward and forward linkages for tribal artisans and suppliers, facilitating the marketing of tribal products across various categories, including metal craft, textiles, jewelry, paintings, cane and bamboo, terracotta and pottery, as well as organic and natural food products. These products are marketed through both online and offline platforms. Furthermore, TRIFED organizes and participates in festivals, exhibitions, and trade fairs to provide a platform for tribal artisans to showcase their products, connect with potential buyers, and enhance their entrepreneurial opportunities. In Assam, 1087 tribal artisans/suppliers associated with 9543 families have been empaneled and 05 Tribes India outlets have also been set up. Details of the Tribes India outlets in Assam is given below:
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S. No
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Outlet Name
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Address
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1
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Tribes India, Shilpgram
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NEZCC Campus, Near Sakardev, Kalashetra, Guwahati
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2
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Tribes India, Manipur Bhawan
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Manipur Bhawan, ASEB Road, Guwahati
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3
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Tribes India, Artfed
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A K Azad Road, Rahabari, Guwhati
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4
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Tribes India, Airport, Guwahati
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Departure Lounge Area, Guwahati Airport
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5
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Tribes India, Bongaigaon
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BGR Township Shipping Complex, Chirang, BTR Assam.
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Further, under Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Minor Forest Produce (MFP) component under PMJVM scheme, revolving funds amounting to Rs. 66.935 lakh have been released to the State of Assam for procurement of MFPs against which 191.11 MT of MFPs amounting to Rs. 102.41 lakh has been reported procured so far.
The National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, facilitates credit linkage by providing concessional loans to eligible Scheduled Tribe individuals/SHGs for undertaking income-generating activities and self-employment, thereby fostering entrepreneurship. The key schemes of NSTFDC are as follows:
- Term Loan Scheme: NSTFDC extends financial assistance for viable projects costing up to ₹50 lakh per unit. Under this scheme, up to 90% of the project cost is funded, with the remaining amount covered through subsidy, promoter contribution, or margin money.
- Adivasi MahilaSashaktikaran Yojana (AMSY): A dedicated scheme for the economic empowerment of Scheduled Tribe women, providing loans of up to ₹2 lakh per project at a highly concessional interest rate of 4% per annum, covering up to 90% of the project cost.
- Micro Credit Scheme for Self-Help Groups (MCF): Designed exclusively for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to address the small loan requirements of Scheduled Tribe members. Under this scheme, loans of up to ₹50,000 per member and a maximum of ₹5 lakh per SHG are provided.
- Adivasi Shiksha Rrinn Yojana (ASRY): An education loan scheme aimed at supporting Scheduled Tribe students in pursuing technical and professional education, including Ph.D. programs, in India. Financial assistance of up to ₹10 lakh per eligible family is provided at a concessional interest rate of 6% per annum.
In the State of Assam, NSTFDC has disbursed loans amounting to Rs. 64.26 lakhs to 64 beneficiaries in the last three years.
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