Bharat Tribes Fest 2026: How TRIFED & RISA Timeless Tribal Are Empowering India’s Tribal Economy & Women Artisans
India’s tribal communities are redefining their role in the global economy by transforming traditional forest-based livelihoods into sustainable, high-value products that appeal to modern consumers.
This shift from subsistence to enterprise marks a significant reimagining of tribal economies
The age-old traditions are no longer isolated but seamlessly integrated into national and international markets.
This vibrant transformation comes alive at the Bharat Tribes Fest 2026, scheduled from 18 to 30 Mar
2026 at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi.
Organized by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
The festival serves as a dynamic national platform that celebrates tribal craft, culture, entrepreneurship, and livelihoods.
It brings the richness of India’s indigenous heritage to the forefront of the country’s cultural and economic narrative
It offers visitors an immersive experience of tradition meeting innovation.
The change is powered by focused government initiatives, most notably the launch of RISA: Timeless Tribal — a premium signature brand introduced by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Other key programmes include the Van Dhan Yojana and the expansive Tribes India network. These efforts are helping tribal artisans move beyond raw material suppliers to become active participants in global value chains.
What emerges is a compelling story of heritage blended with ambitio
It means forests meet fashion, and ancient skills finally receive their true market value.
Institutional Support and Market Linkages
India’s tribal economy is undergoing systematic reshaping through well-designed institutional frameworks that ensure both livelihood security and direct market access. The government recognizes that tribal communities, among the nation’s most skilled artisans, need empowerment rather than mere support.
This involves enabling a structural shift from supplying raw materials to creating and owning brands
It command premium prices in domestic and international markets.
The TRIFED-led Tribes India network plays a crucial role by directly connecting tribal producers with urban consumers, significantly reducing intermediary exploitation.
Complementing this is the Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) — community-owned centers established under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIFED. These centers promote sustainable livelihoods by focusing on value addition, processing, and branding of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP).
Each VDVK cluster typically comprises 15 tribal Self-Help Groups (SHGs), with each SHG consisting of up to 20 gatherers or artisans.
Notable Collections
This structure brings together nearly 300 beneficiaries per cluster, fostering collective enterprise. The model supports joint procurement, shared processing infrastructure, skill enhancement, and stronger bargaining power.
Women in regions like Bastar, who once processed mahua or tamarind at subsistence levels, are now emerging as micro-entrepreneurs integrated into formal value chains.
Tribal producers bring raw materials and handicrafts to VDVKs for quality grading, value addition, packaging, and documentation.
The finished products then flow through the Tribes India retail network — including stores in major airports and premium malls — as well as e-commerce platforms, reaching both national consumers and international fair-trade markets.
RISA: Timeless Tribal, inspired by the traditional Risa fabric of Tripura, elevates tribal craftsmanship by repositioning it as a premium offering.
The brand emphasizes designer-artisan collaborations, innovation, quality standards, and global positioning while preserving cultural authenticity. It strengthens tribal craft clusters and showcases diverse heritage products.
Featured Tribal Crafts Under RISA and Beyond
Several iconic crafts are gaining prominence through these initiatives:
- Eri & Muga Silk from Assam
- Kotpad Cotton from Odisha
- Changpa Pashmina from Ladakh
- Toda Embroidery from Tamil Nadu
- Dokhra Art from Chhattisgarh
- Longpi Pottery from Manipur
- Turtuk Brass Cutlery from Ladakh
Partnerships with institutions like the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) help adapt traditional designs for contemporary tastes without diluting their roots.
A Dokhra pendant or a handwoven textile that once fetched minimal returns now commands significantly higher value under certified tribal branding.
Women as the Driving Force
At the heart of this economic transformation is the pivotal role of women. Far from being passive beneficiaries, tribal women are the primary producers, leaders, and quality guardians. Women-led cooperatives have become powerful hubs of empowerment, enabling collective savings, micro-lending, and investment in raw materials. For many, TRIFED initiatives have provided their first formal economic identity, converting unrecognized subsistence work into documented, dignified livelihoods.
Inspiring Changemakers
Young leaders are scripting powerful stories of change. Debongshi Chakma, a 24-year-old entrepreneur from the Chakma tribe in Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district, founded the Bodhibloom Society. Leading over 500 members with a special focus on empowering vulnerable women, including divorced women, she integrates handwoven textiles, traditional foods, jhum cultivation, and bamboo products. Her vision is clear: “I want every woman in my community to be self-reliant and empowered while proudly representing our culture globally.”
In Jharkhand, 23-year-old Urmila Sonwar, a Santhal artisan from Kajri village, translates sacred rituals and local landscapes into striking handwoven sarees. She aims to give visibility to her village’s traditions through her craft.
From the Nilgiri Hills, Sangeetha, a 42-year-old Toda artisan, preserves fragile generational embroidery techniques using red and black threads on coarse cotton.
In Uttarakhand, Anita Rana of the Tharu tribe promotes sustainable Munja grass weaving, creating eco-friendly alternatives to plastic and training younger women in her collective of over 300 members.
A Sustainable Future
As India’s tribal communities enter global value chains, their greatest strength lies in the uniqueness of their handmade products — something machines cannot replicate.
Initiatives like TRIFED, Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, the expanding Tribes India network, and high-visibility platforms such as Bharat Tribes Fest 2026 are enabling artisans to engage with markets on their own terms — as creators and brand owners rather than mere beneficiaries.
From forest produce to global design spaces, tribal India is crafting a model of development that is sustainable, inclusive, and deeply rooted in cultural pride. This journey not only enhances incomes but also preserves invaluable indigenous knowledge systems for future generations.
