Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission

Key Highlights:

• The Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) aims to empower tribal communities dependent on Minor Forest Produce (MFP).
• It organizes tribals into community-owned Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) to facilitate value addition and entrepreneurship.
• The mission ensures procurement of MFP at a pre-determined Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 87 identified items.
• So far, 4,172 VDVKs have been sanctioned, linking 12.48 lakh tribal members to the scheme.
• PMJVM provides comprehensive support including skilling, technological assistance, market linkages, and infrastructural development.
• The mission significantly contributes to the financial empowerment of tribal women, who are primary collectors and sellers of MFP.

Detailed Insights:

• Tribal communities derive 20-40% of their annual income from MFP but historically sold it at distress prices to intermediaries.
• PMJVM, launched in 2021-22, systematically enhances MFP value by training tribals in scientific harvesting and processing practices.
• It connects tribal communities to broader national and digital markets, improving their exposure and sales opportunities.
• The mission's VDVK model is built upon the framework of the Van Dhan Yojana, launched in 2018.
• VDVKs are clusters of 15 Self-Help Groups (SHGs), comprising around 300 tribals, with at least 60% Scheduled Tribe members.
• Support includes primary processing equipment, working capital facilitated by institutions like National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), and storage/transportation.
• Marketing efforts involve local Haat Bazaars, private partnerships, market intelligence from Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), and branding initiatives including Geographical Indicators (GI).
• The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (Forest Rights Act), and Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA Act), provide legal recognition for tribal rights over MFP.
• TRIFED is mandated with marketing and development of tribal products, procuring MFP at MSP through state implementing agencies.
• The mission fosters a sustainable, community-owned, forest-based economy, contributing to India's vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Minor Forest Produce (MFP): All non-timber forest produce of plant origin, including bamboo, honey, lac, tendu leaves, and medicinal plants.
• Minimum Support Price (MSP): A guaranteed price set by the government for agricultural and forest produce to protect producers against price fluctuations.
• Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs): Community-owned tribal enterprises that organize tribals for value addition, processing, and marketing of MFP.
• Geographical Indication (GI): A sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation due to that origin.