Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY) UPSC

Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY)

• Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana is an initiative targeting livelihood generation for tribals by harnessing the wealth of forest i.e. Van Dhan. The programme aims to tap into traditional knowledge & skill sets of tribals by adding technology & IT to upgrade it at each stage and to convert the tribal wisdom into a viable economic activity. The initiative shall provide enhanced livelihood to about 45 lakhs tribal gatherers in one year. It is implemented by TRIFED under Ministry of Tribal Affairs. 

• The Van Dhan initiative shall promote and leverage the collective strength of tribals to achieve a viable scale to take on the predatory market forces in the areas where these are still prevalent.

• Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana aims to set-up tribal community owned Minor Forest Produce (MFP)-centric multi-purpose Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (the Kendra) in predominantly tribal districts. About 6000 Van Dhan Kendras are proposed to be set up in span of 2 years i.e. 3000 Kendras to be set-up in each year, which will be further continued based on evaluation of their performance and also expanded every year.

• Essential Features of the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana:

• The State Nodal Department will have the flexibility to appoint any State Implementing Agency /  District Implementing Unit for implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana in the State and District levels.
• The Kendras would act as common facility centres for procurement cum value addition to locally available MFPs. Value addition of raw produce is expected to increase the share of tribals in the value chain to 70-75% (from the present share of 20-25%).
• A typical Van Dhan Vikas Kendra shall constitute of 15 tribal Van Dhan Self Help Groups (SHG), each comprising of up to 20 MFP gatherers i.e. about 300 beneficiaries per Kendra (subject to variability as per local conditions).

• Additional Information about Van Dhan Kendras - Key features of Van Dhan Kendras:

• The Van Dhan SHGs would belong to contiguous area, preferably in same or near-by villages
• At least 50% beneficiaries of the SHG shall be tribal and the SHG shall be led by a tribal member
• Preference to be given to convergence with functional SHGs promoted under Aajeevika Mission/JFMCs/ LAMPS/ Other Tribal Collectives with majority tribal members

• The endeavor would be to identify a cluster of 2-3 Aajeevika SHGs/ primary level societies/ collectives (as the case may be) operating preferably in the same or near-by villages as a Van Dhan SHG for the training and equipment supply.

• Each Van Dhan SHG would be given a unique name although the Aajeevika SHGs within the Van Dhan SHG will continue to be identified by their respective Aajeevika SHG IDs. 

• The Aajeevika SHGs will also continue to use their Aajeevika bank accounts for working capital requirements for the purpose of Van Dhan operations. The Van Dhan SHG may also open a new bank account for this purpose in case the need is felt by the SHG members.

• The technology component under the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana will focus on optimization of human capital that will be the touchstone of the technology choice exercised.
• It shall also trigger setting-up of standards of quality and benchmarks for replication at each stage of value addition to MFPs.
• Pricing of value added products will be market driven and would be derived based on contextual factors.
• Setting up of Demo Processing Units that will act as showcasing center for all the other VDVKs in the region & across country.