To date, the Vandhan Vikas Kendras have been grouped into 2224 Vandhan Vikas Kendra groups. There are 300 forest dwellers in each group. In the whole country, TRIFED gave their approval in less than two years.
The Minimum Support Price (MSP) system on Vandhan tribal start-ups and Small Forest Produce (MFP) facilitates the sale of their products to the tribes that deposit forest products. Apart from this, it also facilitates value addition through tribal groups. These initiatives are being done by TRIFED. TRIFED works under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and has played an important role in addressing the economic pressures of tribals in this challenging time by creating employment. We have a special story of success, which has been discussed a lot recently. She is associated with Dastan Rajasthan’s Vandhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK) group.
Last year 3019 Vandhan Vikas Kendras were included in 189 clusters in Rajasthan. These groups are helping about 57 thousand 292 beneficiaries. To date, the Vandhan Vikas Kendras have been grouped into 2224 Vandhan Vikas Kendra groups. There are 300 forest dwellers in each group. In the whole country, TRIFED gave their approval in less than two years. One of these groups of Rajasthan, Vandhan Vikas Kendra Group, Srinath Rajivika, is a magnificent story of Magwas. Under the leadership of its veteran entrepreneur Mugli Bai, the VDVK group sold huge quantities of herbal gulal in a short span of time. It is said that 5 lakh 80 thousand rupees were sold.
Hundreds of women making herbal gulal
The tribal people of Jhadol in Udaipur collect fresh flowers from the dense forests of the area. They collect flowers of Palash, Kaner, Ranjka and Marigold. The collected flowers are taken to Shrinath Vandhan Vikas Kendra, Magwas. The flowers are boiled in water in large pots. This process lasts for two to three hours, so that the color of the flowers in the water completely comes down. This color is the natural color of flowers. After this, colored water is filtered and maize flour is added to it. It is mixed with rose-water and grinded as flour. The tribal people then dry the purified herbal gulal by hand and remove it if there is any garbage etc. Shuddh Gulal is then sold in attractive packets and sold! More than 600 women are engaged in the work of making herbal gulal from these leaves.
Millions of tribal people are getting benefit from the scheme
This unique story of entrepreneurship continues on the strength of age-old practice and tradition. This is a proof of how the Vandhan Yojana is benefiting the tribal population. A Vandhan Vikas Kendra consists of 20 tribal members. 15 such Vandhan Vikas Kendras form a Vandhan Vikas Kendra Group. The Vandhan Vikas Kendra Group (VDVKC) provides the Vandhan Vikas Kendras with access to sales, livelihoods and market access and enterprise opportunities. It is to be noted that about 6.67 lakh tribes who have collected products from the forests of 23 states and two union territories have got the opportunity of entrepreneurship. The success of the program can be seen in the fact that 50 lakh tribes have already benefited from the Vandhan start-up programs.
TRIFED’s mission is to improve the livelihood of the tribal population and improve the lives of the deprived and at-risk tribal people. It is expected that with the help of the Vandhan Yojana initiative, more and more success stories will be heard in the coming days. This will strengthen the ‘Vocal for Local’ and the spirit of self-reliant India and improve the livelihood, income and life of tribal people.
