Parliament Question: Review of TRIFED Initiatives

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3026

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 07.08.2025 REVIEW OF TRIFED INITIATIVES

3026. SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR:

SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B:

SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has undertaken any recent review of the functioning, performance, and outcomes of the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) and if so, the details of such review including the methodology adopted, major findings and shortcomings identified;

(b) the quantum of financial assistance provided to TRIFED during the last five years, year-wise;

(c) the measurable impact of TRIFED’s initiatives such as Van Dhan Yojana and Tribes India outlets on the income and livelihoods of tribal artisans and forest-produce gatherers;

(d) whether there have been any delays or gaps in procurement, marketing or disbursement of payments to tribal beneficiaries under TRIFED programmes and if so, the details thereof;

(e) the steps being taken to expand TRIFED’s operations in remote and Left-Wing Extremism

(LWE)-affected tribal areas;

(f) whether the Government has any plans to restructure or reform TRIFED to enhance its efficiency, market linkage and transparency in dealings with tribal communities and if so, the details thereof; and

(g) whether any third-party evaluation or audit of TRIFED's schemes has been conducted recently and if so, the findings thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)

(a) The review of schemes and programmes implemented by TRIFED is a routine process which is undertaken from time to time. The challenges faced by TRIFED are broadly related to demand of tribal products in the market, delayed utilization of funds by State Implementing Agencies and market linkages.

(b) The financial assistance provided to TRIFED in the last five years is given below:Year 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 Amount

170.74 255.90 135.27 151.28 111.70 (Rs. in crores)

(c) & (d) So far, TRIFED has sanctioned 4130 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) under Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) scheme associating 12,35,308 beneficiaries and 531 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) VDVKs under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adiwasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) associating 45,480 beneficiaries. All these VDVKs have reported sale of tribal products amounting to Rs. 129.86 crores till date. Besides, TRIFED has undertaken procurement worth Rs. 97.18 crores from their empanelled tribal artisans / SHGs in the last five years for marketing through its Tribes India outlets and multiple eCommerce platforms. There are generally no delays/gaps in procurement, marketing or disbursement of payments to tribal artisans/suppliers.

(e) VDVKs set up under PM-JANMAN and PMJVM takes care of promotional activities for livelihood of PVTGs and other tribal communities located in remote areas as well as Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected tribal areas.

(f) At present the Ministry do not have any plan for restructure of TRIFED.

(g) No third-party review of the schemes implemented though TRIFED has been conducted recently. *****