Minstry of Tribal Affairs Intends to Establish National Tribal Research Institute (NTRI)
- To serve as a repository of information, a centre for research, and a think tank for tribal development, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs plans to establish the National Tribal Research Institute (NTRI) in Delhi.
- However, the Ministry is not currently considering any proposals for cooperation with NGOs. In order to ensure quality and uniformity in research works, evaluation studies, training, awareness generation among tribals, and showcasing of rich tribal heritage including languages, habitats, and cultivation and production practises such as cloth weaving, etc., the NTRI intends to serve the purpose of mentoring and hand holding support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) located in various States. For national conferences, NTRI may also serve as a venue.
- For Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups: Social Security Program A Social Security Scheme for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups is planned to be developed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (PVTG). Additionally, it oversees the “Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Development of Value Chain for MFP” programme, which ensures that the Minor Forest Produce gatherers—the majority of whom are Scheduled Tribes—receive fair compensation for their labour in gathering the notified forest produce. Additionally, the Van DhanVikasKaryakram programme has been implemented by the government under this programme to enhance the abilities of MFP gatherers in sustainable MFP cultivation, their value addition, providing required tools and facilities, etc.
- which will enhance the recipients’ returns even more. Over the past few months, the MSP for MFP Scheme has successfully injected more than Rs 3000 crore into the tribal economy. There has been some good news in this difficult and volatile year, including the record-breaking purchase of MFPs under the MSP for MFP Scheme in 16 states, which has reached Rs. 148.12 crores. Since the scheme’s implementation, this represents the highest level of MFPs, total procurement value, and state participation ever. With this, the year’s total purchases (from both the public and private sectors) surpassed Rs 3000 crores, proving to be a much-needed solution during these painful times of the Covid-19 outbreak, which has devastated tribal peoples’ lives and means of subsistence. The Guidelines for the Scheme for “Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) & Development of Value Chain for MFP” initiated to provide MSP to gatherers of forest produce and introduce value addition and marketing through tribal groups and clustershas taken firm root over the last few months since April 2020 with the Government push, the Van Dhan scheme proving to be a catalyst, and active participation from the States Chhattisgarh has taken the lead among the States by purchasing 46,857 metric tonnes of minor forest products for an astounding Rs 106.53 crores.
- Gujarat and Odisha come in second and third with purchases of 14391.23 MTs and 772.97 MTs of MFPs, respectively, totaling Rs 30.41 crore and Rs 3.41 crore. Chhattisgarh has 866 procurement centres, and the State has effectively utilised the 139 Van DhanKendras’ extensive network of Van Dhan SHGs. These high procurement values are a result of innovations used, such as the door-to-door collection of minor forest products by mobile units made up of forest, revenue, and VDVK officials. The continuous COVID-19 pandemic created unusual conditions that presented difficulties and led to a serious catastrophe among the tribal population.
- Youth unemployment and tribal reverse migration put the entire tribal economy at jeopardy. The MSP for MFP provided an opportunity to all the States in such a situation.
- The Van Dhan Yojana, which involved 3.6 lakh tribal beneficiaries and was successfully implemented across 22 States, as well as TRIFED’s ongoing interaction with and onboarding of the States, invariably served as a catalyst for moving the MSP for MFP Scheme in the correct direction. Government engagement and procurement also gave the boost that was needed. A revised set of MSP for MFP rules was released on May 1 2020 with the goal of boosting the struggling tribal economy. This helped to ensure higher revenues for the tribal gatherers by raising the MSP prices of the MFPs by up to 90%. The Ministry has suggested the addition of 23 more goods to the MSP for MFP list on May 26, 2020. Produce gathered by tribal gatherers includes agricultural and horticultural products.
- The State has received support and assistance from TRIFED, the nodal organisation aiming to empower the tribal population, during this crisis.
- The private sector has purchased goods worth more than Rs 2000 crores above MSP, with the Government of India and State agencies accounting for over Rs 1000 crores at MSP.
- The MSP for MFP Scheme has been crucial in speeding the development of the tribal ecosystem and empowering the people with the injection of over Rs3000 crores into the tribal economy. The amount of procurement will undoubtedly expand as systems and procedures become well-established across the nation.