**Executive Summary:**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4683 regarding tribal projects and initiatives in the Shirur Lok Sabha Constituency, particularly in Junnar and Ambegaon talukas of Maharashtra. It clarifies the Ministry of Tribal Affairs' current involvement and future plans for the region, focusing on economic empowerment and market access for tribal artisans. The document outlines existing schemes and collaborations aimed at supporting tribal communities.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Tribal Hubs/Traditional Hubs:**
* The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has not launched any dedicated mega projects like Tribal Hubs or Traditional Hubs in the specified region.
* **Global Market Access:**
* TRIFED engages with international buyers through the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM).
* Collaborations with Indian Missions abroad are pursued to strengthen international market presence.
* TRIFED promotes Geographical Indication (GI) products crafted by tribal artisans and holds authorized user certificates for approximately 46 GI products.
* TRIFED is establishing GI product counters within Tribes India outlets.
* An e-commerce portal (tribesindia.com) features over 3,600 tribal products.
* Tribal products are available on other e-commerce platforms like ONDC, Amazon, and Flipkart.
* **Exhibitions and Promotion:**
* TRIFED promotes tribal art through exhibitions like Aadi Bazaar, Aadi Mahotsav, and Aadi Chitra.
* There are no plans to establish permanent exhibition centers in Junnar and Ambegaon.
* **Economic Empowerment Schemes:**
* Under PMJVM, INR 15.00 lakhs is provided to State Governments for each Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK).
* 14 VDVKs have been established in the Shirur constituency through the State Nodal Department, with sanctioned funds of Rs. 210 Lakhs.
* National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) provides concessional loans to eligible Scheduled Tribe individuals.
* NSTFDC disbursed Rs. 39.96 cr to 11,967 tribal beneficiaries in Maharashtra over the last five years.
**Impact Analysis:**
**Tribal Artisans:**
* *Impact:* Enhanced market access through e-commerce platforms, GI product promotion, and participation in exhibitions. Economic empowerment through VDVKs and concessional loans.
* *Action Required:* Utilize available platforms to showcase and sell products; engage with VDVKs for value addition activities; apply for concessional loans through NSTFDC.
**State Governments (Maharashtra):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for setting up and managing VDVKs with financial support from PMJVM.
* *Action Required:* Effectively utilize allocated funds to establish and support VDVKs; coordinate with TRIFED and NSTFDC to facilitate market access and financial assistance for tribal artisans.
**TRIFED:**
* *Impact:* Central agency for promoting tribal products and facilitating market access.
* *Action Required:* Continue engaging with international buyers; expand GI product promotion; maintain and improve the tribesindia.com portal; organize exhibitions and participate in trade fairs.
**NSTFDC:**
* *Impact:* Providing financial assistance to tribal beneficiaries through concessional loans.
* *Action Required:* Continue disbursing loans to eligible individuals; promote awareness of available schemes among tribal communities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for tribal affairs.
Shirur Lok Sabha Constituency: A Lok Sabha (parliamentary) constituency in Maharashtra, India.
Junnar, Maharashtra: A taluka (administrative division) in Pune district, Maharashtra, India.
Ambegaon, Maharashtra: A taluka (administrative division) in Pune district, Maharashtra, India.
Tribal Co-Operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED): An organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, focused on marketing and development of tribal products.
Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM): A mission focused on the development of tribal communities.
Geographical Indication (GI): A sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs): Centres for value addition activities related to Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4683
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 21.08.2025
TRIBAL OR TRADITIONAL HUBS AS MEGA PROJECTS
4683. Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe:
Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has launched any dedicated mega projects such as Tribal Hubs or
Traditional Hubs in Shirur Lok Sabha Constituency, particularly in Junnar and Ambegaon talukas
of Maharashtra, aimed at preserving and promoting tribal cultural heritage and traditional crafts;
(b) if so, the details thereof including proposed locations, estimated budgetary allocations and
timelines set for implementation;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to facilitate global market access for tribal artisans from the
region through collaborations with international organizations, including initiatives for
Geographical Indication (GI) tagging and promotion through e-commerce platforms;
(d) whether the Government proposes to establish permanent exhibition centers and tribal art and
craft fairs in Junnar and Ambegaon to showcase and sustain tribal traditions and if so, the details
thereof; and
(e) the details of ongoing schemes aimed at the economic empowerment of tribal communities in
the Shirur Lok Sabha Constituency, including financial outlays, collaborative partnerships and
specific measures taken to curb distress migration from tribal-dominated area?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)
(a) & (b) The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has not launched any dedicated mega projects such as
Tribal Hubs or Traditional Hubs in Shirur Lok Sabha Constituency, particularly in Junnar and
Ambegaon talukas of Maharashtra.
(c) To facilitate global market access for tribal artisans, Tribal Co-Operative Marketing
Development Federation of India (TRIFED) under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission
(PMJVM) engages with international bulk buyers and explores strategic partnerships through
participating in international trade fairs and expos - domestically and internationally. TRIFED is
also pursuing collaborations with Indian Missions abroad to strengthen its presence in international
markets and search the opportunities for their sales promotion.
Besides, TRIFED is actively working to promote and preserve the rich cultural heritage of
tribal communities through the marketing of Geographical Indication (GI) products. TRIFED
currently holds authorized user certificates for around 46 GI products, all of which are crafted bytribal artisans/suppliers. To further strengthen this initiative, TRIFED explores and identifies
additional GI items which are made by tribal artisans and initiate the process of obtaining
authorized user certificates for these newly identified GI products. Besides, TRIFED is
establishing dedicated GI product counters within Tribes India outlets across the country, which
will showcase GI-certified tribal products, helping customers easily identify and appreciate the
cultural significance of each item.
TRIFED has recently developed a new e-commerce portal ‘tribesindia.com’ to provide
online shopping platform of its tribal products to the customers. More than 3,600+ tribal products
are live on this website and features a wide range of products, including tribal textiles & apparels,
Van Dhan naturals, metal crafts, tribal paintings, pottery, wooden crafts, and tribal jewellery.
Besides, the tribal products are also made available on other ecommerce platforms like ONDC,
Amazon, Flipkart etc. to enhance market access.
(d) TRIFED has been promoting tribal art and craft by way of organizing exhibitions like Aadi
Bazaar, Aadi Mahotsav and AadiChitra besides participating in various exhibition being organsied
by other Organisations. However, there is no proposal to establish permanent exhibition centers in
Junnar and Ambegaon.
(e) Under the scheme of PMJVM, financial support of INR 15.00 lakhs is provided to the State
Governments for setting up of each Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) which are the centres of
value addition activities of MFPs/Non-MFPs. In Shirur constituency, TRIFED has established 14
VDVKs under PMJVM Scheme through State Nodal Department (Department of Tribal
Development, Government of Maharashtra) and State Implementing Agency (Shabari Adivasi
Vitta Va Vikas Mahamanadal Maryadit Nashik) in the Pune district of Maharashtra for the
livelihood enhancement of VDVK members by value addition of MFP, Farm and Non-Farm
products and Produce, for which funds of Rs. 210 Lakhs have been sanctioned.
National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), a Central
Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, provides credit linkage by
extending concessional loans to the eligible Scheduled Tribe persons for undertaking income
generation activities/ self-employment under its various schemes. During the last five years,
NSTFDC has disbursed an amount of Rs. 39.96 cr to 11,967 tribal beneficiaries in Maharashtra
under various schemes of NSTFDC.
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