The Government is promoting cooperatives in tribal areas to strengthen livelihoods through minor forest produce, handicrafts, organic products and other local activities, Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said in a written Rajya Sabha reply.
The National Cooperative Policy 2025 focuses on empowering vulnerable and tribal communities through value addition, processing and marketing of forest produce. States are being encouraged to strengthen
Forest Produce Societies and develop them into multipurpose cooperatives where suitable. Under TRIFED’s Van Dhan programme, community-owned Van Dhan Vikas Kendra clusters support collection and marketing of minor forest produce, with 100% government assistance to eligible SHGs/Van Dhan Kendras.
NCDC provides financial support to eligible cooperatives, having disbursed Rs 44.40 crore in Jharkhand and Rs 2,302.22 crore in Gujarat during the period.
NCEL will facilitate exports of surplus tribal produce, while NCOL supports aggregation, certification, branding and marketing of organic products under Bharat Organics.
