SYLLABUS

GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Context: The Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) has sanctioned 4,172 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, linking 12.48 lakh tribal members to value addition and market opportunities for Minor Forest Produce.

About the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM)

• Launched: 2021–22 by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs as an umbrella scheme by merging the Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce through Minimum Support Price and Development of Value Chain for MFP and Institutional Support for Development and Marketing of Tribal Products.

• Nodal Agency: Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), which implements the scheme directly or through State Implementing Agencies.

• Objective: To strengthen tribal livelihoods and entrepreneurship by promoting the efficient, equitable and self-managed use of Minor Forest Produce (MFP), agricultural and non-farm produce, along with value addition and market linkages.

• Core approach: The Mission organises tribal gatherers into community-owned Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs), enabling them to move from selling raw produce to value-added and marketable products.

Key Features of PMJVM

• Minor Forest Produce and MSP Support: The Forest Rights Act, 2006 defines MFP as non-timber forest produce of plant origin, including bamboo, cane, honey, wax, lac, tendu leaves, medicinal plants, herbs, roots and tubers. 

• The government has notified MSP for 87 MFP items, with TRIFED procuring MFP through State Implementing Agencies at the pre-determined MSP; since 2013–14, 2,67,954 metric tonnes worth ₹693.98 crore has been procured.

• Van Dhan Vikas Kendras: VDVKs organise tribal gatherers into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for aggregation, primary processing and value addition, generally clustering 15 SHGs and about 300 members, with at least 60% Scheduled Tribe members. 

• The Van Dhan Yojana, launched in 2018, forms the foundation of this model and enables communities to convert locally available produce into value-added, marketable products.

• Skill, Infrastructure and Enterprise Support: PMJVM provides training in scientific harvesting, processing, value addition and entrepreneurship, along with equipment such as dryers, decorticators, cutting and sieving tools and packaging equipment. 

• It also facilitates working capital, storage and transportation, and supports VDVKs and Van Dhan Producer Enterprises (VDPEs).

• Market and Digital Linkages: VDVKs are linked with more than 5,000 Haat Bazaars in tribal areas, while these markets are being modernised with storage, weighing facilities, drinking water, shade and permanent structures. 

• TRIFED provides market intelligence and e-commerce opportunities, while PMJVM supports branding, exhibitions, Geographical Indications, geo-tagging, IT and e-commerce platforms, and research and development.

Need and Significance

• Livelihood Security: Around 20–40% of the annual income of many Scheduled Tribe households is derived from MFP, making PMJVM important for strengthening and diversifying tribal livelihoods.

• Value Addition and Fair Remuneration: Enables communities to move from selling raw produce to processing, branding and marketing, while MSP provides a price safety net.

• Community Ownership and Women’s Empowerment: Promotes collective enterprises in which tribal communities, particularly women, participate as producers, entrepreneurs and owners.

• For example, the Nyigamane, Ho Yorbe, Medumhagdum VDVK in Arunachal Pradesh has 300 women SHG members and farmers and has sold products worth ₹11 lakh since 2022–23.

• Sustainable Forest Economy: Combines traditional knowledge and locally available resources with modern technology, processing and market access, while promoting sustainable harvesting.

• Inclusive Growth: Strengthening tribal livelihoods, entrepreneurship and market participation supports inclusive growth and the broader vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

Key Challenges

• Operational Gaps: Of the 4,172 sanctioned VDVKs, only 2,911 are functional, indicating gaps in translating approvals into operational community enterprises.

• Limited Market Reach: Remote tribal communities can continue to face difficulties in accessing procurement centres, organised markets and remunerative buyers despite MSP and market-linkage mechanisms.

• Digital and Infrastructure Barriers: Limited digital access, connectivity and digital literacy in remote forest regions can constrain the use of e-commerce and digital market platforms.

• Scaling Value Addition: Reported sales of around ₹168 crore across functional VDVKs indicate the need to deepen processing, branding, enterprise capabilities and market linkages for greater commercial scale.