Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana, Objectives, Features

Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana was launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in collaboration with the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India in 2018 with the main objective of raising tribal revenue by improving the productivity of tribal commodities. The scheme will ensure a sustainable livelihood for tribal communities and provide them with the required financial aid, training and marketing support for their forest produce. 

Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana Overview

Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana is a flagship scheme by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India. The scheme will support tribal communities by promoting value-addition to their non-timber forest produce and establishing Van Dhan Vikas Kendras. 

Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana Objectives

The objective of Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana is to improve the economic status of tribal commodities and products by promoting the development of tribal entrepreneurship and hence provide employment opportunities within tribal populations through Van Dhan Kendras. 

• Through skill development and capacity building opportunities, Van Dhan Yojana will be able to improve the livelihoods and income of tribal communities. 
• The scheme will establish and operate Van Dhan Kendras by promoting entrepreneurship among tribal communities. 
• The scheme will help in improving the market value of products created by market gatherers and establish processing and packaging facilities.
• This process will help in sustainable utilization of forest resources by providing support to tribal communities in collection, processing and marketing of NTFPs. 

Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana Features 

Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana has the following features: 

• Value Addition and Income Improvement: PMVDY focuses on processing, packaging, and branding of forest produce to increase tribal gatherers’ income.
• Setting up of Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs): Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are organized into clusters, receiving technical support and training for effective business management.
• Cluster-Based Approach: Groups of 10-15 SHGs form Van Dhan Vikas Samuhs (VDVS) to collectively handle value addition and marketing of non-timber forest products (NTFPs).
• Skill Development and Capacity Building: Tribal gatherers are trained in collection, processing, and marketing of NTFPs to improve their skills and efficiency.
• Infrastructure and Equipment Support: Financial assistance is provided for infrastructure setup, equipment procurement, and meeting working capital needs.
• Convergence with Government Initiatives: The scheme aligns with other government programs to leverage resources and expertise for the overall development of tribal communities.

Components of the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana

Tribal Self-Help Groups: Grassroots-level self-help groups ensure community involvement, supported by technical expertise, skill enhancement, and financial aid to establish processing units and value-addition infrastructure.

Van Dhan Clusters:

• Geographic clusters of tribal gatherers and artisans focused on skill development and infrastructure.
• Promote value addition to forest produce and market tribal products.
• Serve as platforms for sustainable entrepreneurship and improved livelihoods for tribal communities.

Van Dhan Kendras:

• Primary centers for processing and value addition located in tribal areas.
• Act as aggregation hubs for forest produce collected by tribal gatherers.
• Provide facilities for grading, packaging, and processing to boost market value.

Van Dhan Vikas Kendras:

• Larger regional hubs supporting multiple Van Dhan Kendras.
• Facilitate scaling up of value addition, branding, and marketing of tribal products.
• Aim to establish a sustainable framework for tribal entrepreneurship and economic growth.

Van Dhan Mission Directorate:

• Apex body overseeing the implementation of the Van Dhan Yojana.
• Provides strategic direction, policy support, and monitoring.
• Coordinates efforts among central and state governments, tribal organizations, and NGOs.

Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana Importance

Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana is important in the following ways: 

• Socio-Economic Upliftment: PMVDY plays a pivotal role in enhancing the socio-economic well-being of tribal communities by enabling them to derive sustainable benefits from forest resources.
• Curbing Rural Migration: The scheme helps reduce rural-to-urban migration by creating sustainable livelihood opportunities within tribal habitats.
• Empowerment through Livelihoods: PMVDY empowers tribal communities by offering sustainable alternatives to traditional forest-based activities, fostering self-reliance.
• Entrepreneurship and Market Access: The program encourages value addition and entrepreneurship among tribal gatherers, increasing their incomes and providing better access to markets.
• Sustainable Forest Management: PMVDY emphasizes scientific methods for collecting, processing, and marketing non-timber forest products (NTFPs), ensuring both sustainable use and conservation of forest resources.
• Inclusive Development: The scheme prioritizes the socio-economic development of tribal communities, integrating them into the broader framework of the nation’s economic growth.

PMVDY Implementation

The Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY) is implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) in partnership with State Tribal Development Cooperative Corporations and other state-level agencies. The scheme emphasizes leveraging existing infrastructure while ensuring active participation of tribal communities in decision-making and operations.

Implementation Phases:

1. Phase I (2016-2019): Focused on establishing Van Dhan Clusters and Van Dhan Kendras to initiate the value addition process.
2. Phase II (2019-2024): Aims to strengthen existing clusters and Kendras while enhancing the marketing and branding of forest produce.

Key Implementation Steps:

• Community Identification: Recognizing tribal communities reliant on forest produce for their livelihoods.
• Organization into SHGs: Forming Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to foster collective effort and entrepreneurship.
• Formation of Clusters: Creating Van Dhan Clusters to streamline activities and resources.
• Setting Up Kendras: Establishing Van Dhan Kendras as centers for value addition, packaging, and processing.
• Support Provision: Offering financial assistance, skill development training, and marketing support to SHGs.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Regular assessment of progress and outcomes to ensure effectiveness and sustainability.

This structured approach ensures the empowerment of tribal communities and promotes sustainable utilization of forest resources.