This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Tribal Affairs' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2064, concerning skill development and self-employment initiatives for Tharu tribal youth in aspirational districts like Shravasti and Balrampur, specifically answered on July 31, 2025.
The Ministry, through the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) implemented by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED), promotes livelihood opportunities and entrepreneurship among tribal populations. Across India, 4105 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) have been sanctioned, involving 1,237,282 members. In Uttar Pradesh, 25 VDVKs have been sanctioned, benefiting 7328 individuals.
TRIFED facilitates market linkages for tribal products under PMJVM by empanelling tribal artisans and procuring their products. It provides toolkits, machinery, and training to support primary and secondary-level processing. Retail marketing is conducted through TRIBES India Outlets, e-commerce platforms (Amazon, ONDC, Flipkart), and exhibitions like Aadi Mahotsav and Aadi Bazaar. Currently, one supplier belonging to the Tharu tribe in Balrampur district, associated with 10 families, is empanelled with TRIFED for the supply of tribal products.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for the welfare and development of tribal communities.
SHRI RAM SHIROMANI VERMA: The Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question in Lok Sabha.
Tharu Tribe: A tribal community mentioned in the context of skill development and self-employment schemes.
Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh: An aspirational district in Uttar Pradesh where Tharu tribal youth reside, targeted for specific schemes.
Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh: An aspirational district in Uttar Pradesh where Tharu tribal youth reside, targeted for specific schemes.
Van Dhan Yojana: A program aimed at value addition of tribal products through Van Dhan Kendras.
TRIFED: Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India, an organization involved in promoting livelihood opportunities for the tribal population.
Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM): A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs through TRIFED to promote livelihood opportunities and entrepreneurship among the tribal population.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2064
TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025
SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND SELF EMPLOYMENT FOR TRIBAL YOUTH
2064. SHRI RAM SHIROMANI VERMA:
Will the Minister of Tribal Affairs be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has covered Tharu tribal youth living in the aspirational districts like Shravasti and
Balrampur under any specific schemes for self-employment and skill development and if so, the details thereof:
(b) whether programmes such as ‘Van Dhan Yojana’, ‘TRIFED’ and ‘Van Dhan Kendras’ have been
implemented in these districts and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the number of youths to whom training/financial assistance has been provided under such programmes;
(d) whether there is any mechanism in place for establishing market linkage or marketing of tribal products
under these programmes and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, whether there is any proposal to expand the scope under these programmes to include such initiatives
in the future and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)
(a) to (c) The Ministry of Tribal Affairs implements the scheme Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission
(PMJVM) through Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED) to facilitate and promote
livelihood opportunities and entrepreneurship in the tribal population. So far, TRIFED has sanctioned 4105
VDVKs associating 12,37,282 members across the country. In Uttar Pradesh, 25 VDVKs have been sanctioned
which cover 7328 beneficiaries.
(d) and (e) Under PMJVM TRIFED also undertakes empanelment of tribal artisans, procurement of various
tribal products from them for generating livelihood opportunities for tribal communities and provides toolkits,
machinery and training to facilitate primary and secondary-level processing, thereby strengthening the
backward linkages for tribal artisans. It undertakes retail marketing of tribal products through its TRIBES India
Outlets, E-Commerce platforms like Amazon, ONDC, Flipkart etc. and Exhibitions like Aadi Mahotsav, Aadi
Bazaar etc., thereby providing forward linkages to the open market. As a part of these activities TRIFED
has empaneled 01 supplier belonging to Tharu Tribe in Balrampur district associated with 10 families for supply
of tribal products.
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