**Summary:**
Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2996, addressed to the Minister of Tribal Affairs on August 7, 2025, concerns the establishment of 100 Tribal Multipurpose Marketing Centers (TMMCs). The policy aims to benefit tribal communities economically by serving as facility centers for aggregation, value addition, and marketing of tribal produce.
Specifically, the TMMCs are designed to:
* Minimize post-harvest and post-production losses.
* Promote the use of locally sourced produce through aggregation and value addition.
* Provide tribal producers with collective marketing opportunities, market information, and connections to potential buyers.
* Ensure better price realization through market linkages at various levels.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is considering proposals from State Governments, including Telangana, to ensure the long-term operational effectiveness of these centers and to enhance market access for tribal entrepreneurs and products.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for the welfare and development of tribal communities.
Shri Ramasahayam Raghuram Reddy: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the unstarred question regarding tribal multipurpose marketing centers.
Tribal Multipurpose Marketing Centers (TMMCs): A proposed network of centers designed to support the economic development of tribal communities through aggregation, value addition, and marketing of tribal produce/products.
Shri Durgadas Uikey: Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Telangana: A state in India where steps are being taken to ensure the tribal centers remain operational.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question regarding TMMCs was raised.
State Governments: Various state governments that submit proposals to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs regarding the establishment and operation of TMMCs.
Tribal Entrepreneurs: Individuals from tribal communities who are engaged in entrepreneurial activities, particularly in producing and marketing tribal products.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2996
TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.08.2025
ESTABLISHMENT OF TRIBAL MULTIPURPOSE MARKETING CENTERS
2996. Shri Ramasahayam Raghuram Reddy:
Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS
be pleased to state:
(a) the manner in which the establishment of 100 tribal multipurpose marketing centers would
benefit tribal communities economically;
(b) the kind of support and resources that would be provided to tribal entrepreneurs through these
centers; and
(c) the steps being taken to ensure that these centers remain operational and effective in the long
term in Telangana?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)
(a)& (b): Tribal Multipurpose Marketing-Centers (TMMCs) has been envisaged to act as a facility
centre for aggregation, value addition and marketing of tribal produce/products for overall
socioeconomic development of tribal communities and enhancing their income in following ways:
(i). Minimize post-harvest and post-production losses.
(ii). Foster the use of locally sourced produce / products through aggregation/ value addition of
tribal produce / products.
(iii). Provide tribal producers with opportunities and support for collective marketing and other
services such as market information and establishing contacts between farmers and potential
(iv). Ensuring better price realization of tribal produce / products by establishing market linkages
at various levels and opportunities of aggregation with tie ups.
(c): Ministry of Tribal Affairs has considered the proposals received from the State Governments
time to time including the Telangana State to ensure that these centers remain operational and
effective in the long term to enhance market access for tribal entrepreneurs and products.
***