**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Ministry of Tribal Affairs' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1027, concerning livelihood and income-generation programs for tribal communities in Assam. The response, dated February 5, 2026, details initiatives implemented through TRIFED and NSTFDC, including the PMJVM scheme, and reports on beneficiaries and financial assistance provided. The document also contains information on the action required by specific stakeholders.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Implementing Agencies:**
* The Ministry of Tribal Affairs supports tribal communities through TRIFED and NSTFDC.
* **Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM):**
* Aims to strengthen tribal entrepreneurship and facilitate livelihood opportunities.
* Provides Rs. 15.00 lakhs to State Governments for each Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK).
* 495 VDVKs have been sanctioned with funds of Rs. 7425 lakhs, associating 1,50,765 members in Assam.
* 359 VDVKs are operationalized with reported sales of Rs. 1623.36 lakhs.
* **TRIFED Initiatives:**
* Provides backward and forward linkages for tribal artisans and suppliers.
* Facilitates marketing of tribal products (metal craft, textiles, jewelry, paintings, etc.).
* Markets products through online and offline platforms.
* Organizes and participates in festivals, exhibitions, and trade fairs.
* 1087 tribal artisans/suppliers with 9543 families have been empaneled in Assam.
* 5 Tribes India outlets are established in Assam (locations listed in the document).
* **Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Minor Forest Produce (MFP):**
* Under PMJVM, Rs. 66.935 lakh was released to Assam for MFP procurement.
* 191.11 MT of MFPs amounting to Rs. 102.41 lakh have been procured.
* **NSTFDC Schemes:**
* Provides concessional loans to Scheduled Tribe individuals/SHGs.
* **Term Loan Scheme:** Finances up to Rs. 50 lakh per project.
* **Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana (AMSY):** Loans up to Rs. 2 lakh for Scheduled Tribe women.
* **Micro Credit Scheme for Self-Help Groups (MCF):** Loans up to Rs. 50,000 per member and Rs. 5 lakh per SHG.
* **Adivasi Shiksha Rrinn Yojana (ASRY):** Education loans up to Rs. 10 lakh per family.
* NSTFDC has disbursed loans of Rs. 64.26 lakhs to 64 beneficiaries in Assam in the last three years.
* **District-wise VDVK Details (Annexure-I):**
* Lists district-wise details of VDVK members in Assam, including the number of VDVKs and total members per district.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** Receive financial support for setting up VDVKs.
* **Action Required:** Utilize funds to establish and manage VDVKs effectively.
**Tribal Artisans and Suppliers**
* **Impact:** Benefit from marketing support, access to platforms, and enhanced entrepreneurial opportunities.
* **Action Required:** Participate in TRIFED initiatives, utilize marketing platforms, and connect with potential buyers.
**Scheduled Tribe Individuals/SHGs**
* **Impact:** Access to concessional loans for income-generating activities and self-employment.
* **Action Required:** Apply for loans under NSTFDC schemes and utilize funds for viable projects.
**Scheduled Tribe Students**
* **Impact:** Access to education loans for technical and professional education.
* **Action Required:** Apply for education loans under ASRY.
**Tribal Communities in Assam**
* **Impact:** Livelihood improvement, income enhancement, and overall economic empowerment through various schemes.
* **Action Required:** Participate in relevant schemes and initiatives, and leverage opportunities for skill development and entrepreneurship.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The primary ministry responsible for the livelihood and income-generation programmes for tribal communities.
TRIFED (Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India): One of the two agencies of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, involved in strengthening tribal entrepreneurship initiatives and facilitating livelihood opportunities.
NSTFDC (National Scheduled Tribes Finance & Development Corporation): One of the two agencies of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, facilitating credit linkage by providing concessional loans to eligible Scheduled Tribe individuals/SHGs
Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM): A scheme implemented through TRIFED to strengthen tribal entrepreneurship initiatives and facilitate livelihood opportunities.
Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs): Centers for value addition activities of MFPs/Non-MFPs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1027
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 5th FEBRUARY, 2026
Livelihood Programmes for Tribals in Assam
1027. Md. Rakibul Hussain:
Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has reviewed the effectiveness of livelihood and income-generation programmes for
tribal communities in Assam;
(b) the details of skill development, entrepreneurship and forest-based livelihood initiatives implemented in the
State;
(c) the number of beneficiaries covered under these initiatives, district-wise; and
(d) the outcomes achieved in terms of employment generation and income enhancement?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (TRIBAL AFFAIRS)
(SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)
(a) to (d): The Ministry of Tribal Affairs through its two agencies namely Tribal Co-operative Marketing
Development Federation of India (TRIFED) & National Scheduled Tribes Finance & Development Corporation
(NSTFDC) is providing support to individuals belonging to tribal communities across India in the areas of
livelihood, entrepreneurship and income generation.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission
(PMJVM)’ through TRIFED which envisions to strengthen tribal entrepreneurship initiatives and to facilitate
livelihood opportunities by promoting more efficient, equitable, self-managed, optimum use of natural resources,
Agri / Minor Forest Produce (MFPs) / Non-farm produce. Under the scheme, financial support of Rs. 15.00 lakhs
is provided to the State Governments for setting up each Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) which are the centers
of value addition activities of MFPs/Non-MFPs. Since the inception of the program in 2019-20, 495 VDVKs
have been sanctioned with funds amounting to Rs. 7425 lakhs, associating 1,50,765 members in Assam. Details
of the same is given at Annexure-I. Out of these, 359 VDVKs have been reported as operationalized with
reported sales of Rs. 1623.36 lakh.
Additionally, TRIFED provides backward and forward linkages for tribal artisans and suppliers,
facilitating the marketing of tribal products across various categories, including metal craft, textiles, jewelry,
paintings, cane and bamboo, terracotta and pottery, as well as organic and natural food products. These products
are marketed through both online and offline platforms. Furthermore, TRIFED organizes and participates in
festivals, exhibitions, and trade fairs to provide a platform for tribal artisans to showcase their products, connect
with potential buyers, and enhance their entrepreneurial opportunities. In Assam, 1087 tribal artisans/suppliers
associated with 9543 families have been empaneled and 05 Tribes India outlets have also been set up. Details of
the Tribes India outlets in Assam is given below:S. No Outlet Name Address
1 Tribes India, Shilpgram NEZCC Campus, Near Sakardev, Kalashetra, Guwahati
2 Tribes India, Manipur Bhawan Manipur Bhawan, ASEB Road, Guwahati
3 Tribes India, Artfed A K Azad Road, Rahabari, Guwhati
4 Tribes India, Airport, Guwahati Departure Lounge Area, Guwahati Airport
5 Tribes India, Bongaigaon BGR Township Shipping Complex, Chirang, BTR Assam.
Further, under Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Minor Forest Produce (MFP) component under PMJVM
scheme, revolving funds amounting to Rs. 66.935 lakh have been released to the State of Assam for procurement
of MFPs against which 191.11 MT of MFPs amounting to Rs. 102.41 lakh has been reported procured so far.
The National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), a Central Public Sector
Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, facilitates credit linkage by providing concessional loans
to eligible Scheduled Tribe individuals/SHGs for undertaking income-generating activities and self-employment,
thereby fostering entrepreneurship. The key schemes of NSTFDC are as follows:
Term Loan Scheme: NSTFDC extends financial assistance for viable projects costing up to ₹50 lakh per
unit. Under this scheme, up to 90% of the project cost is funded, with the remaining amount covered through
subsidy, promoter contribution, or margin money.
Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana (AMSY): A dedicated scheme for the economic empowerment of
Scheduled Tribe women, providing loans of up to ₹2 lakh per project at a highly concessional interest rate
of 4% per annum, covering up to 90% of the project cost.
Micro Credit Scheme for Self-Help Groups (MCF): Designed exclusively for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to
address the small loan requirements of Scheduled Tribe members. Under this scheme, loans of up to
₹50,000 per member and a maximum of ₹5 lakh per SHG are provided.
Adivasi Shiksha Rrinn Yojana (ASRY): An education loan scheme aimed at supporting Scheduled Tribe
students in pursuing technical and professional education, including Ph.D. programs, in India. Financial
assistance of up to ₹10 lakh per eligible family is provided at a concessional interest rate of 6% per annum.
In the State of Assam, NSTFDC has disbursed loans amounting to Rs. 64.26 lakhs to 64 beneficiaries in the last
three years.Annexure-I as referred to in reply to part (a) to (d) of LSUQ no. 1027 for answer on
05.02.2026 regarding Livelihood Programmes for Tribals in Assam
District-wise details of VDVK members in the state of Assam
Total
S.No Name of District VDVKs Members
1 Baksa 25 7830
2 Bajali 1 300
3 Barpeta 2 600
4 Biswanath 16 4930
5 Bongaigaon 3 900
6 Cachar 4 1255
7 Charaideo 13 3900
8 Chirang 23 6966
9 Darrang 11 3300
10 Dhemaji 37 11224
11 Dhubri 6 1800
12 Dibrugarh 10 3070
13 Dima Hasao 15 4510
14 East Karbi Anglong 11 3384
15 Golaghat 9 2740
16 Goalpara 20 6208
17 Hailakandi 6 1800
18 Hojai 9 2780
19 Jorhat 6 1800
20 Kamrup (M) 14 4237
21 Kamrup (R) 15 4548
22 Karimganj 6 1800
23 Kokrajhar 31 9471
24 Majuli 23 6910
25 Morigaon 10 300026 Nagaon 13 3970
27 Nalbari 7 2109
28 North Lakhimpur 22 6610
29 Sanitpur 19 5752
30 Sivasagar 10 3070
31 Tamulpur 15 4580
32 Tinsukia 13 3970
33 Udalguri 49 14915
34 West Karbi Anglong 21 6526
Total 495 150765
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