Context

Towards realizing the goal of “SabkaSaath, SabkaVikas”, TRIFED has joined hands with NITI Aayog to implement the Van DhanYojana in the aspirational districtsidentified by NITI Aayog.

About

About the Van DhanYojana

• The Van Dhan Scheme is an initiative of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIFED. 
• It was launched in 2018 and seeks to improvetribal incomes through the value addition of tribal products.
• The scheme will be implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs as Nodal Department at the Central Level and TRIFED will be the Nodal Agency at the National Level.
• At the State level, the State Nodal Agency and the District collectors will be responsible for the implementation at the grassroots level.
• At the unit level, aggregation of produce would be done through SHGs having about 30 members each forming Van DhanVikas ‘Samuh’.
• The SHGs would also undertake primary value addition of the Micro Forest Produce (MFPs) using equipment such as small cutting and sieving tools, decorticator, dryer, packaging tool,etc based on MFPs available in the area.
• The establishment of "Van DhanVikas Kendra" is to provide skill up-gradation and capacity building training and setting up of primary processing and value addition facility.
• The Van DhanVikasKendras will be an important milestone in achieving the economic development of tribals who are involved in the collection of MFPs by helping them in optimum utilization of natural resources and providing sustainable MFP-based livelihood in MFP-rich districts.