Udaipur in Parliament: 505 Van Dhan Development Centers and 283 Tribal Artisans/Suppliers Linked with TRIFED in Rajasthan

Udaipur: Rajasthan currently has 505 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (Van Dhan Development Centers) benefiting 1,52,362 people. TRIFED maintains an inventory of over 1 lakh products across eight categories: textiles, earthenware, paintings, gifts & assorted items, cane & bamboo, metal, jewelry, and natural products. In the state, 283 tribal artisans or suppliers, connected to 51,774 families, are registered with TRIFED.
This information was provided in Parliament by Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Durgadas Udke, in response to a question raised by MP Dr. Mannalal Rawat. He explained that these centers, established under the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY), aim to convert the traditional knowledge and skills of tribal communities into economic activities. Operated jointly by TRIFED and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the centers support value addition, processing, and marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP). The initiative primarily focuses on empowering tribal women and increasing their income.
The Van Dhan Development Scheme was launched by the Prime Minister on April 14, 2018, on the birth anniversary of Constitution-maker B.R. Ambedkar. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been working to expand these centers across tribal districts of India.
The Van Dhan Mission seeks to create livelihood opportunities for tribal communities by utilizing non-timber forest produce (NTFP). The total estimated value of these forest resources is ₹2 lakh crore annually, and the initiative encourages collective empowerment of tribal communities.
The Minister further noted that TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited) is a national-level multi-state cooperative society, registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 (amended in 2002 and 2023). TRIFED operates according to its by-laws, framed under the provisions of this Act.
Under the PMVDY scheme, the Ministry notifies the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Minor Forest Produce and provides revolving funds to state governments for procurement at the notified MSP. So far, the Ministry has released ₹319.65 crore to state governments for MFP procurement.
This initiative not only enhances tribal incomes but also promotes their traditional skills as sustainable livelihoods, strengthening the tribal economy in India.