The Ministry of Cooperation is promoting cooperative institutions in tribal districts to raise tribal household income through forest-produce value chains. TRIFED (Tribal Co-Operative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited) implements the Van Dhan programme for collection and selling of minor forest produce, using tribal community-owned Van Dhan Vikas Kendra Clusters (VDVKCs).

What happened: Van Dhan clusters and forest-produce cooperatives

The Union Government promotes cooperatives engaged in minor forest produce, handicrafts, organic products, and other livelihood activities in tribal areas, including tribal districts in Jharkhand and Gujarat. The Van Dhan programme focuses on districts with predominantly forest-dwelling tribal populations and covers collection and selling of minor forest produce.

Under the Van Dhan programme, tribal community-owned Van Dhan Vikas Kendra Clusters (VDVKCs) are set up in tribal districts. The Government provides 100% assistance for the Van Dhan programme collectives in the form of SHGs (Self-Help Groups) and Van Dhan Kendras.

The Union Government encourages States and Union Territories to strengthen existing forest-produce societies and, where appropriate, develop them as multipurpose cooperative societies under applicable State Cooperative Societies Acts and local economic potential.

Background and earlier position: National Cooperation Policy, 2025 and cooperative coverage planning

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