New Delhi, March 18: The Union Government has sanctioned 100 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) in Jammu and Kashmir under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM), but only three of them are currently operational, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said the initiative aims to boost tribal livelihoods through value addition and sustainable use of forest resources. The sanctioned centres in J&K cover nearly 29,791 tribal members with a total financial outlay of ₹14.57 crore.
The VDVKs are being set up with financial support routed through the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited, which is responsible for promoting tribal products and strengthening market linkages.
At the national level, TRIFED has approved 4,125 VDVKs, benefiting over 12.33 lakh tribal members, with a total sanctioned amount of ₹612.27 crore.
The PMJVM scheme focuses on promoting tribal entrepreneurship by supporting self-help groups (SHGs) and beneficiaries in activities such as collection, processing, value addition, packaging, branding, and marketing of forest-based products.
In addition, TRIFED facilitates the empanelment of tribal artisans and producers, enabling them to access wider markets. It also procures tribal products and sells them through its retail network, including 116 TRIBES India outlets, e-commerce platforms, and exhibitions such as Aadi Mahotsav and Aadi Bazaar.
The government says the initiative is designed to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for tribal communities by integrating them into organized value chains and expanding their market reach.
