Lok Sabha Question No. 135 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-14
Subject: Identification of Tribal Products
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Umesh G. Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.135

TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.09.2020

## IDENTIFICATION OF TRIBAL PRODUCTS

## 135.    DR. UMESH G. JADHAV:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

- a. whether the identification of tribal products was undertaken across 27 States and if so, details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- b. whether the Government can list the products identified in Karnataka along with the name of the tribal group;
- c. if so, the details thereof;
- d. if not, the reasons therefor; and
- e. whether any such products identified in Karnataka have been selected for production in this year, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SMT. RENUKA SINGH SARUTA)

- (a) Marketing Development Activity: Ministry of Tribal Affairs has not specifically undertaken any exercise for identification of tribal products across all States. However, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, through  its  subordinate  organization  Tribal  Cooperative  Marketing  Development  Federation  of India Ltd. (TRIFED)  has been implementing Scheme  namely  'Institutional Support for Development  and  Marketing  of  Tribal  Products/Produce"  for  promotion  and  development  of tribes.  Under  this  scheme,  besides  other  market  development  activities,  TRIFED  has  alsobeen involved in Retail Marketing activities, which involve procurement of various tribal products from its  empaneled  tribal  suppliers  (i.e.,  individual  tribal  artisans,  SHGs,  Organizations/Agencies working  with  tribal  artisans)  located  in  different  States  and  marketing  the  same  through  Retail network of Tribes India Showrooms and exhibitions across the country.

The product categories being dealt by TRIFED are:

-  Metal Craft ·Tribal Textiles
-  Tribal Jewelry ·Tribal painting
-  Cane &Bamboo products ·Terracotta & Stone Pottery
-  Gift and Novelties &
-  Organic and Natural Food Products

MFP Development Activity: In consultation with State Government Implementing Agencies, Minor Forest Produce items are identified across the country for inclusion in the scheme of 'Mechanism for marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Development of Value Chain for MFP'.

To  start  with,  the  scheme  had  been  implemented  in  States  having  areas  under  Schedule  V  of  the Constitution  and  initially  covered  ten  MFP  items.  However,  the  list  has  been  modified  periodically after  discussion  with  various  stakeholders  and  TRIFED,  and  currently  73  items  have  been  notified, including 15 items that are generally classified as 'Agricultural produce' but have been included in the list due to exceptional and very difficult circumstances prevailing in the country due to the COVID 19 pandemic as they are collected by tribal gatherers.

(b) to (c)Yes, Sir. Under Marketing Development Activity, the following products/produce are sourced from Karnataka: Wild Honey, Shikakai, Coffee, Amla, etc. The Tribal Groups involved is Soliga.

- d. Does not arise in view of reply to (b) & (c) above.

(e)         The  schemes  of  'Institutional  Support  for  Development  and  Marketing  of  Tribal  Products  / Produce' and 'Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price  (MSP)  and  Development  of  Value  Chain  for  MFP'  are  demand  driven  and  depend  upon proposals from State Governments. No proposals have been received from the State Government of Karnataka in this year so far.

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