JAMMU: The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), in collaboration with the Department of Tribal Affairs and Jammu & Kashmir State Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKSRLM) today organised a one day workshop at the Convention Center, Jammu on 22 May 2025, aiming to promote awareness and implementation of tribal welfare schemes in the Union Territory.
The workshop was conducted under the chairmanship of Managing Director, TRIFED, Hirdesh Kumar.
Among others present were Prasanna Ramaswamy G, Secretary, Tribal Affairs, Jammu & Kashmir; Shubhra Sharma, Mission Director, JKSRLM; Sachin Kumar Vaishya, District Development Commissioner Jammu; Sher Singh, Additional Development Commissioner, Jammu; Director, National Institute for Small Business Development (NIESBUD); officials from TRIFED Head Office, New Delhi; TRIFED Regional Office, Chandigarh and DPM, BPM and SPMs of SRLM, J&K besides the nodal officers and representatives from DPM, BPM, SPMs of SRLM of all 20 districts of J&K.
The Managing Director, TRIFED, provided detailed insights of the flagship schemes and activities i.e., Minimum Support Price for Minor Forest Produce (MSP for MFP), Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK), Infrastructure development and Retail Marketing activity being implemented by TRIFED on behalf of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA). He highlighted the potential of livelihood generation in Tribal communities in all the districts of Jammu & Kashmir. He asked the senior officials and other stakeholders involved in tribal development for their active participation in implementing all the activities in the UT.
He stressed upon operationalisation of 100 already established VDVKs in 8 districts of J&K, creation of 100 more VDVKs in rest of the 12 districts of J&K, opening of Tribes India Outlet in Jammu, saturation of DAJGUA and conduct of Tribal Artisan empanelment Mela (TAeM) in Jammu & Srinagar.
Senior officials of TRIFED Head Office subsequently elaborated on various components of the schemes, implementation modalities and sanctioning process.
Poonam Sinha, Director, NIESBUD, highlighted the crucial role of NIESBUD/Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MoSDE) in skill development and capacity building of VDVKs, outlining the modalities for empowering the tribal stakeholders in the Union Territory.
Besides, the Nodal Officers from various districts under Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyaan (DAJGUA) updated the gathering on initiatives being taken in their respective districts.
The workshop marked a significant step towards fostering inclusive growth and empowerment of tribal communities in Jammu & Kashmir. TRIFED in partnership with state agencies, remains committed towards supporting the socio-economic upliftment of tribal populations through sustained implementation of its schemes and initiatives.