**Executive Summary**
This document is a response from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to a parliamentary question regarding loans under the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana, to be answered on February 5th, 2026. The response details the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) and Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha AbhiyaN (PM JANMAN) schemes, which provide financial support to State Governments for establishing Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs). The Ministry is proposing to increase the maximum funds provided to each VDVK.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Schemes and Implementation:**
* The Ministry of Tribal Affairs implements the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) through TRIFED to strengthen tribal entrepreneurship and facilitate livelihood opportunities.
* The Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha AbhiyaN (PM JANMAN) scheme specifically targets Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.
* **Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs):**
* VDVKs are centers for value addition activities of Minor Forest Produce (MFPs)/Non-MFPs, with each VDVK consisting of around 15 Van Dhan SHGs and having up to 300 members.
* A maximum of Rs 15.00 lakhs is provided to State Governments on receipt of proposals from them to set up a VDVK for incurring the expenditure on raw material, training and capacity building, tool kits and machinery, mentoring charges, packaging and branding, transportation, storage etc.
* **Financial Assistance:**
* While there is no provision of providing loans to VDVK members under PMJVM, efforts are made to assist VDVK members in availing loans from other government schemes.
* Till date, Rs. 120 lakhs has been sanctioned in Tamil Nadu for establishment of 8 VDVKs (2400 members) under PMJVM.
* Rs. 120.15 lakhs has been sanctioned in Tamil Nadu for establishment of 37 VDVKs (2403 members) under PM JANMAN.
* **Future Enhancements:**
* The Ministry proposes to increase the maximum funds provided to each VDVK to cover working capital, infrastructure funds, and refresher trainings for VDVK members.
* **Tamil Nadu VDVK Details (Annexure):**
* Provides district-wise details for VDVKs sanctioned under both PMJVM and PM-JANMAN, including the number of VDVKs sanctioned, the amount of funds sanctioned, number of operational VDVKs, and sales.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** State Governments are the recipients of financial support for setting up and operating VDVKs.
* **Action Required:** State Governments are required to submit proposals to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to receive funds for VDVKs and ensure proper utilization of funds for raw materials, training, and other operational expenses.
**Tribal Communities / VDVK Members**
* **Impact:** Tribal communities and VDVK members benefit from enhanced livelihood opportunities, skill development, and financial assistance facilitated by the VDVKs.
* **Action Required:** Tribal communities and VDVK members should participate in the VDVK activities, utilize the provided resources and training, and explore opportunities for accessing loans from other government schemes to further enhance their entrepreneurial ventures.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana: A scheme aimed at supporting tribal entrepreneurship and livelihood opportunities by utilizing natural resources and forest produce.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The ministry responsible for implementing the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) scheme and answering questions related to tribal affairs.
Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM): A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs through TRIFED to strengthen tribal entrepreneurship.
Tamil Nadu: A state in India where the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana and related schemes (PMJVM & PMJANMAN) are being implemented with details provided on the distribution and impact.
Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs): Centers established under the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana for value addition activities related to Minor Forest Produce (MFPs) and Non-MFPs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1146
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 5th FEBRUARY, 2026
Loans under Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana
1146. Shri Tharaniventhan M S:
Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of beneficiaries who have received loans under the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan
Yojana in the country, including Tamil Nadu;
(b) the geographical distribution of these beneficiaries, particularly in Tamil Nadu and other tribal-
dense States;
(c) the total amount of financial assistance disbursed to beneficiaries through loans under the said
scheme;
(d) the criteria used to select beneficiaries for loan support under the scheme;
(e) the impact of these loans on income levels, livelihood opportunities and entrepreneurial
activities of tribal communities; and
(f) the future steps planned to enhance the reach and effectiveness of the scheme in empowering
tribal entrepreneurs?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (TRIBAL AFFAIRS)
(SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)
(a) to (e) The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya
Vikas Mission (PMJVM)’ through Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of
India (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 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. Each
VDVK consists of around 15 Van Dhan SHGs and have up to 300 members. A maximum amount
of Rs 15.00 lakhs is provided to State Governments on receipt of proposals from them to set up a
VDVK for incurring the expenditure on raw material, training and capacity building, tool kits and
machinery, mentoring charges, packaging and branding, transportation, storage etc. There is noprovision of providing loans to VDVK members under PMJVM scheme, however, efforts are
made to assist the VDVK members in availing loans from other government schemes such as
NRLM, Micro Credit for SHGs, PMFME etc. Till date, in the State of Tamil Nadu, an amount of
Rs. 120 lakhs has been sanctioned for establishment of 8 VDVKs associating 2400 members under
the PMJVM scheme, while an amount of Rs. 120.15 lakhs has been sanctioned for establishment
of 37 VDVKs associating 2403 members under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha
AbhiyaN (PM JANMAN) scheme meant specifically for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.
The district wise sanction of VDVKs in Tamil Nadu under PMJVM & PMJANMAN is given at
Annexure.
(f) To increase the reach and effectiveness of the scheme, the Ministry is proposing to increase
the maximum funds provided to each VDVKs. The enhanced financial provision would cover
working capital, infrastructure funds and refresher trainings to VDVK members.Annexure
Annexure as referred to in reply to part (a) to (e) of LSUQ no. 1146 for answer on
05.02.2026 regarding Loans under Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana
Tamil Nadu District wise details under PMJVM
Sl. District No. of VDVKs Fund Sanctioned (Rs No. of VDVK Sales(Rs
No. sanctioned in Lakhs) Operational in
Lakhs)
1 Salem 3 45 2 9.90
2 Thirupathur 1 15 1 29.82
3 Thiruvannamalai 3 45 3 198.41
4 Vellore 1 15 1 8.65
Total 8 120 7 246.78
Tamil Nadu District wise details under PM-JANMAN
Sales(Rs
Sl. No. of VDVKs Fund Sanctioned (Rs No. of VDVK
District in
No. sanctioned in Lakhs) Operational
Lakhs)
1 Ariyalur 5 13.05 5 11.31
2 Chengalpattu 2 5.35 2 1.16
3 Coimbatore 10 29.2 8 0.47
4 Namakkal 4 12 4 0.21
5 The Nilgiris 6 31.4 4 50.96
6 Tirupathur 2 6.7 2 0.21
7 Tiruvannamalai 8 22.45 4 0.21
Total 37 120.15 29 64.53
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