Government Promotes Tribal Cooperatives to Enhance Livelihoods and Income in Jharkhand, Gujarat
The Central Government is strengthening cooperative institutions in tribal areas to improve the livelihoods of tribal communities through minor forest produce (MFP), handicrafts, organic farming, and other income-generating activities. The initiative covers tribal districts across the country, including those in Jharkhand and Gujarat.
The National Cooperation Policy 2025 places special emphasis on empowering weaker and marginalized communities, including tribal populations, by promoting value addition, processing, branding, and marketing of minor forest produce through cooperative institutions.
Focus on Multipurpose Cooperative Societies
The Government has encouraged States and Union Territories to strengthen existing forest-produce societies and transform them into multipurpose cooperative societies wherever feasible, in accordance with State Cooperative Societies Acts and local economic needs. Additionally, the National Cooperative Database is being used to identify areas lacking cooperative coverage and to support district-wise planning for expanding cooperative networks.
TRIFED’s Van Dhan Programme Supporting Tribal Livelihoods
The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) continues to implement the Van Dhan Programme, which helps tribal communities collect, process, and market minor forest produce.
Under the programme, Van Dhan Vikas Kendra Clusters (VDVKCs) are established in tribal districts with significant forest-dwelling populations. The Government provides 100% financial assistance to tribal self-help groups and Van Dhan Kendras to strengthen these community-owned enterprises.
Financial Assistance Through NCDC
Eligible cooperative societies can receive financial support under schemes offered by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), various Central Ministries, and State Governments, subject to scheme guidelines and project approvals.
According to the Government, the NCDC disbursed ₹44.40 crore in Jharkhand and ₹2,302.22 crore in Gujarat across different cooperative sectors during the specified period.
Key Measures to Increase Tribal Household Income
The Government has introduced several initiatives to enhance the income of tribal households through cooperative institutions, including:
- Promoting aggregation, processing, value addition, branding, and marketing of minor forest produce and locally available products.
- Allowing cooperative societies to diversify their activities under the Model Bye-laws, including operating Common Service Centres (CSCs), input supply centres, storage facilities, processing units, and other rural services.
- Strengthening market access through national cooperative institutions such as the National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) and the National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL).
- Computerising and digitising Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to improve transparency, efficiency, and access to services.
- Ensuring representation of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) on the Boards of Multi-State Cooperative Societies under the amended Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.
Boosting Organic Products and Exports
The Government is also working to improve domestic and international market access for products made by tribal cooperatives.
The National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL) provides a dedicated platform for exporting surplus produce from cooperative societies, including those operating in tribal regions.
Meanwhile, the National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) supports the aggregation, organic certification, branding, and marketing of organic products under the “Bharat Organics” brand, helping tribal producers access larger markets and secure better returns for their products.
These initiatives are part of the Government’s broader strategy to strengthen the cooperative movement, promote self-reliance among tribal communities, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities through value-added agriculture and forest-based enterprises.