The Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana scheme was introduced in 2018 by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) with the purpose of raising tribal revenue via the productivity improvement of tribal commodities. The scheme aims to create a sustainable livelihood for these communities. It provides them with financial support, training, and marketing support for their forest produce.

This topic of the "Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana UPSC" is important from the perspective of the UPSC IAS Examination, which falls under General Studies Paper 2 (Mains) and General Studies Paper 1 (Preliminary) and particularly in the Social Justice section of the UPSC Exam. 

In this article on the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana UPSC, we will discuss the Van Dhan Yojna, Its features, benefits, objectives, and other initiatives under the supervision of TRIFED in detail. Register for UPSC Online Classes at an affordable price through the UPSC CSE Coaching platform to boost your IAS preparation.

Also, read about the List of All Schemes of the Indian Government for UPSC here!

What is Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana?

Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY) is a flagship scheme launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India. It is aimed at empowering tribal communities by promoting value addition to their non-timber forest produce (NTFP) through the establishment of Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs).

Source: TRIFED

Also, read the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) here!

Objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana

• The primary objective of PMVDY is to improve the livelihoods and income of tribal communities by providing them with skill development and capacity building opportunities in the value chain of NTFPs.
• PMVDY aims to promote entrepreneurship among tribal communities and encourage them to become self-reliant by establishing and operating VDVKs.
• The scheme seeks to promote value addition to NTFPs by establishing processing and packaging facilities. It thereby increases their market value and ensures better returns for tribal gatherers.
• PMVDY aims to promote sustainable utilization of forest resources by providing training and support to tribal communities in the scientific collection, processing, and marketing of NTFPs.

Also, read the Kisan Sampada Yojna here.

Key Features of the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana

• PMVDY follows a cluster approach, wherein a group of 10-15 Self Help Groups (SHGs) form a Van Dhan Vikas Samuh (VDVS). They collectively undertake value addition and marketing of NTFPs.
• The scheme emphasizes the training and capacity building of tribal gatherers to enhance their skills in collection, processing, and marketing of NTFPs. It also provides support for infrastructure development and equipment procurement.
• PMVDY provides financial assistance to VDVKs for the establishment of infrastructure, procurement of necessary equipment, and working capital requirements.
• The scheme promotes convergence with other government programs and initiatives to leverage resources and expertise for the holistic development of tribal communities.

Also, read the Kisan Sampada Yojna here.

Key Components of the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana

Van Dhan Clusters

• Van Dhan Clusters are geographical agglomerations of tribal gatherers and artisans.
• These clusters aim to harness the potential of tribal communities by providing them with skill development training and infrastructure.
• The clusters promote value addition to forest produce and facilitate marketing of tribal products.
• They serve as platforms for tribal entrepreneurs to enhance their livelihoods through sustainable utilization of forest resources.

Van Dhan Kendras

• Van Dhan Kendras are primary processing and value addition centers established in tribal areas.
• These centers serve as aggregation points for forest produce collected by tribal gatherers.
• Van Dhan Kendras provide facilities for grading, packaging, and processing of forest produce to enhance its market value.

Van Dhan Vikas Kendra

• Van Dhan Vikas Kendras are larger processing and marketing complexes established to support multiple Van Dhan Kendras in a region.
• These complexes facilitate the scaling up of value addition activities and market linkages for tribal products.
• Van Dhan Vikas Kendras serve as hubs for processing, branding, and marketing of tribal products on a larger scale.
• They aim to create a sustainable ecosystem for tribal entrepreneurship and economic development in forested regions.

Van Dhan Mission Directorate

• The Van Dhan Mission Directorate is the apex body responsible for implementing the Van Dhan Yojana.
• It provides strategic direction, policy guidance, and monitoring support for the successful implementation of the scheme.
• The Directorate coordinates with various stakeholders. This includes central and state government agencies, tribal organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Study about the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna here.

Implementation of PMVDY

Here is some information about the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY):

• PMVDY is implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) in collaboration with the state governments.
• The scheme is implemented in two phases:
  • Phase I (2016-2019): This phase focused on creating Van Dhan Clusters and Van Dhan Kendras.
  • Phase II (2019-2024): This phase focuses on strengthening the existing Van Dhan Clusters and Van Dhan Kendras. It also focuses on promoting the marketing of forest produce.

The implementation of PMVDY involves the following steps:

• Identification of tribal communities who depend on forest produce for their livelihood.
• Organization of tribal communities into self-help groups (SHGs).
• Formation of Van Dhan Clusters.
• Setting up of Van Dhan Kendras.
• Provision of financial support, training, and marketing support to SHGs.
• Monitoring and evaluation of the scheme.

Also, check out the article on Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) here.

Significance of Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana

• PMVDY aims to empower tribal communities. It provides them with sustainable livelihood opportunities and reduces their dependency on traditional forest-based activities.
• The scheme promotes value addition and entrepreneurship among tribal gatherers. This leads to increased income generation and better market access for their products.
• PMVDY contributes to sustainable forest management by promoting the scientific collection, processing, and marketing of NTFPs, ensuring their sustainable utilization and conservation.
• The scheme focuses on inclusive development by targeting the socio-economic upliftment of tribal communities and promoting their active participation in the country's economic growth.

Challenges Associated with the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana

• One of the challenges is the limited awareness among tribal communities about the scheme and its benefits. This hinders their participation and engagement.
• Inadequate infrastructure, including transportation, storage, and processing facilities, poses challenges in the effective implementation of the scheme, particularly in remote tribal areas.
• Ensuring consistent and reliable market linkages for the tribal produce remains a challenge. This requires establishing strong networks and partnerships with various stakeholders.
• Building the capacity of tribal gatherers in areas such as entrepreneurship, value addition techniques, and marketing strategies is crucial for the success of the scheme but requires sustained efforts and resources.

Checkout the test series for UPSC IAS Exam here.

We hope that all your doubts regarding PM Van Dhan Yojana will be cleared after going through this article. You can download the Testbook App now to check out various other topics relevant to the UPSC IAS Exam.