Pradhan Mantri VAN DHAN Yojana
(PMVDY)
Guidelines for “Training and capacity building of MFP Gatherers and
encouraging their participation by organizing them to form SHGs,
producer companies, cooperatives or other collectives to improve
their bargaining power”
,Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana
Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana
“Van Dhan, Jan Dhan and Govardhan would be the basis for transforming the
rural and tribal economy in the future”
- Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi
at launch of pilot Van Dhan Vikas Kendra, Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, April 14, 2018
1. The Vision
1.1 As a measure to support MFP market development and ensuring fair returns to the
tribal gatherers, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has already been
implementing Scheme on ‘Mechanism for marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP)
through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and development of Value Chain for MFP’.
1.2 As a part of the Scheme, various skill up gradation trainings have been conducted
for the MFP gatherers. The training also provide demonstrative tool kits to the
trainees for promoting adoption of scientific collection, harvesting and primary
processing of MFPs. It is deliberated that whereas trainings conducted have been
intensive, however, outreach of such intervention remains limited in terms of
beneficiaries impacted, sustainability and replicability at grassroots level beyond
the trained critical mass.
1.3 As per clause 4.4.6 (Page 8) of Cabinet Approved Scheme and clause 2.5
(v) (Page 19), 3.4 (Page 24), 3.5 (Page 25) and 3.5.3 (Page 26) of Annex
A, Cabinet Approved Scheme, training and capacity building of MFP
gatherers and encouraging their participation by organizing them to form
SHGs, producer companies, cooperatives or other collectives to improve
their bargaining power has been envisaged.
1.4 In consideration of the above, guidelines for achieving the Scheme objectives have
been formulated.
1.5 This component under the Scheme is proposed to be implemented through the
District Implementing Units by adopting more comprehensive cluster development
approach.
This implies going beyond offering new skills and effective tools (through training)
and building capacities of MFP gatherers as grassroots business clusters with a
focus on value addition. Cluster based value addition approach shall enable the
tribal gatherers to achieve economies of scale as well as collectively leverage their
resources to have better access to public resources, linkages to credit and enhance
their marketing competitiveness.
A20 - 2
, Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana
1.6 The modalities to achieve such outcomes has to be undertaken with well identified
project targets, delineation of responsibilities, availability of budget and a robust
monitoring mechanism.
2. The Concept
2.1 It is a fact widely acknowledged that forests in India have survived mostly in areas
that have a high percentage of tribals. This is largely because the tribals
traditionally have had an interest in forest conservation and development. Their
economy, culture, and every other aspect of life are closely related to forests. They
have a symbiotic relationship with forests: the survival of one depends on the
survival of the other. Over generations, they have built an enormous traditional
knowledge base regarding forests and forest produces.
2.2 After 1927, when the Forest Act was enacted, the State adopted a timber-centric,
commercial approach towards forest development. Timber, especially high-value
timber like teak, found focus. The various ‘crops’ of the forests (the non-timber
products) were dismissively clubbed as ‘Minor Forest Produces’ (MFP). The fact is
that the tribals’ dependence on forests was chiefly for these MFPs; to them timber
was secondary. It was precisely for this primacy of MFP that they were nurturing
the trees. However, tribals were overlooked.
2.3 However, subsequently certain reforms have been made by the government in
terms of ownership of MFPs by the tribals. The Scheduled Tribes and Other
Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act as brought in 2006.
Earlier, Provisions of Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996
conferred ownership rights on tribal Gram Sabhas in respect of MFP found in their
area. In 2014, the Scheme of MSP for MFP was introduced.
2.4 All of the above are steps in the right direction. But to achieve the desired object,
several ‘gaps’ that include the following need to be filled:
(i) As a result of the timber-first policy, the area under MFP-bearing trees is
shrinking. This is reflected in a general fall in production figures of various
MFP.
(ii) The trade mechanism of MFP at the primary haat bazar level remains
highly inequitable to the tribals. As a result of this, even when the market
prices appear impressive, the cash that comes to the tribal’s hands remains
low. Substantial gain is reaped by the long chain of middlemen.
2.5 In other words, the first mile and the last mile intervention by the Government to
safeguard the tribals’ trade-interests in MFP is still pending. The result is that the
A20 - 3
(PMVDY)
Guidelines for “Training and capacity building of MFP Gatherers and
encouraging their participation by organizing them to form SHGs,
producer companies, cooperatives or other collectives to improve
their bargaining power”
,Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana
Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana
“Van Dhan, Jan Dhan and Govardhan would be the basis for transforming the
rural and tribal economy in the future”
- Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi
at launch of pilot Van Dhan Vikas Kendra, Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, April 14, 2018
1. The Vision
1.1 As a measure to support MFP market development and ensuring fair returns to the
tribal gatherers, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has already been
implementing Scheme on ‘Mechanism for marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP)
through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and development of Value Chain for MFP’.
1.2 As a part of the Scheme, various skill up gradation trainings have been conducted
for the MFP gatherers. The training also provide demonstrative tool kits to the
trainees for promoting adoption of scientific collection, harvesting and primary
processing of MFPs. It is deliberated that whereas trainings conducted have been
intensive, however, outreach of such intervention remains limited in terms of
beneficiaries impacted, sustainability and replicability at grassroots level beyond
the trained critical mass.
1.3 As per clause 4.4.6 (Page 8) of Cabinet Approved Scheme and clause 2.5
(v) (Page 19), 3.4 (Page 24), 3.5 (Page 25) and 3.5.3 (Page 26) of Annex
A, Cabinet Approved Scheme, training and capacity building of MFP
gatherers and encouraging their participation by organizing them to form
SHGs, producer companies, cooperatives or other collectives to improve
their bargaining power has been envisaged.
1.4 In consideration of the above, guidelines for achieving the Scheme objectives have
been formulated.
1.5 This component under the Scheme is proposed to be implemented through the
District Implementing Units by adopting more comprehensive cluster development
approach.
This implies going beyond offering new skills and effective tools (through training)
and building capacities of MFP gatherers as grassroots business clusters with a
focus on value addition. Cluster based value addition approach shall enable the
tribal gatherers to achieve economies of scale as well as collectively leverage their
resources to have better access to public resources, linkages to credit and enhance
their marketing competitiveness.
A20 - 2
, Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana
1.6 The modalities to achieve such outcomes has to be undertaken with well identified
project targets, delineation of responsibilities, availability of budget and a robust
monitoring mechanism.
2. The Concept
2.1 It is a fact widely acknowledged that forests in India have survived mostly in areas
that have a high percentage of tribals. This is largely because the tribals
traditionally have had an interest in forest conservation and development. Their
economy, culture, and every other aspect of life are closely related to forests. They
have a symbiotic relationship with forests: the survival of one depends on the
survival of the other. Over generations, they have built an enormous traditional
knowledge base regarding forests and forest produces.
2.2 After 1927, when the Forest Act was enacted, the State adopted a timber-centric,
commercial approach towards forest development. Timber, especially high-value
timber like teak, found focus. The various ‘crops’ of the forests (the non-timber
products) were dismissively clubbed as ‘Minor Forest Produces’ (MFP). The fact is
that the tribals’ dependence on forests was chiefly for these MFPs; to them timber
was secondary. It was precisely for this primacy of MFP that they were nurturing
the trees. However, tribals were overlooked.
2.3 However, subsequently certain reforms have been made by the government in
terms of ownership of MFPs by the tribals. The Scheduled Tribes and Other
Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act as brought in 2006.
Earlier, Provisions of Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996
conferred ownership rights on tribal Gram Sabhas in respect of MFP found in their
area. In 2014, the Scheme of MSP for MFP was introduced.
2.4 All of the above are steps in the right direction. But to achieve the desired object,
several ‘gaps’ that include the following need to be filled:
(i) As a result of the timber-first policy, the area under MFP-bearing trees is
shrinking. This is reflected in a general fall in production figures of various
MFP.
(ii) The trade mechanism of MFP at the primary haat bazar level remains
highly inequitable to the tribals. As a result of this, even when the market
prices appear impressive, the cash that comes to the tribal’s hands remains
low. Substantial gain is reaped by the long chain of middlemen.
2.5 In other words, the first mile and the last mile intervention by the Government to
safeguard the tribals’ trade-interests in MFP is still pending. The result is that the
A20 - 3
