Lok Sabha Question No. 4683 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-21
Subject: Tribal or Traditional Hubs as Mega Projects
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4683

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 21.08.2025

## TRIBAL OR TRADITIONAL HUBS AS MEGA PROJECTS

## 4683. Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has launched any dedicated mega projects such as Tribal Hubs or Traditional Hubs in Shirur Lok Sabha Constituency, particularly in Junnar and Ambegaon talukas of Maharashtra, aimed at preserving and promoting tribal cultural heritage and traditional crafts;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  proposed  locations,  estimated  budgetary  allocations  and timelines set for implementation;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to facilitate global market access for tribal artisans from the region through collaborations with international organizations, including initiatives for Geographical Indication (GI) tagging and promotion through e-commerce platforms;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to establish permanent exhibition centers and tribal art and craft fairs in Junnar and Ambegaon to showcase and sustain tribal traditions and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of ongoing schemes aimed at the economic empowerment of tribal communities in the Shirur Lok Sabha Constituency, including financial outlays, collaborative partnerships and specific measures taken to curb distress migration from tribal-dominated area?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)

- (a) & (b) The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has not launched any dedicated mega projects such as Tribal Hubs or Traditional Hubs in Shirur Lok Sabha Constituency, particularly in Junnar and Ambegaon talukas of Maharashtra.
- (c)  To  facilitate  global  market  access  for  tribal  artisans,  Tribal  Co-Operative  Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) engages  with  international  bulk  buyers  and  explores  strategic  partnerships  through participating in international trade fairs and expos - domestically and internationally. TRIFED is also pursuing collaborations with Indian Missions abroad to strengthen its presence in international markets and search the opportunities for their sales promotion.

Besides, TRIFED is actively working to promote and preserve the rich cultural heritage of tribal  communities  through  the  marketing  of  Geographical  Indication  (GI)  products.  TRIFED currently holds authorized user certificates for around 46 GI products, all of which are crafted by tribal  artisans/suppliers.  To  further  strengthen  this  initiative,  TRIFED  explores  and  identifies additional  GI  items  which  are  made  by  tribal  artisans  and  initiate  the  process  of  obtaining authorized  user  certificates  for  these  newly  identified  GI  products.  Besides,  TRIFED  is establishing dedicated GI product counters within Tribes India outlets across the country, which will showcase GI-certified tribal products, helping customers easily identify and appreciate the cultural significance of each item.

TRIFED has recently developed a new e-commerce portal 'tribesindia.com' to provide online shopping platform of its tribal products to the customers. More than 3,600+ tribal products are live on this website and features a wide range of products, including tribal textiles & apparels, Van  Dhan  naturals,  metal  crafts,  tribal  paintings,  pottery,  wooden  crafts,  and  tribal  jewellery. Besides, the tribal products are also made available on other ecommerce platforms like ONDC, Amazon, Flipkart etc. to enhance market access.

(d) TRIFED has been promoting tribal art and craft by way of organizing exhibitions like Aadi Bazaar, Aadi Mahotsav and AadiChitra besides participating in various exhibition being organsied by other Organisations. However, there is no proposal to establish permanent exhibition centers in Junnar and Ambegaon.

(e) Under the scheme of PMJVM, financial support of INR 15.00 lakhs is provided to the State Governments for setting up of each Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) which are the centres of value addition activities of MFPs/Non-MFPs. In Shirur constituency, TRIFED has established 14 VDVKs  under  PMJVM  Scheme  through  State  Nodal  Department  (Department  of  Tribal Development, Government of Maharashtra) and State  Implementing  Agency (Shabari  Adivasi Vitta  Va  Vikas  Mahamanadal  Maryadit  Nashik)  in  the  Pune  district  of  Maharashtra  for  the livelihood  enhancement  of  VDVK  members  by  value  addition  of  MFP,  Farm  and  Non-Farm products and Produce, for which funds of Rs. 210 Lakhs have been sanctioned.

National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, provides credit linkage by extending  concessional  loans  to  the  eligible  Scheduled  Tribe  persons  for  undertaking  income generation  activities/  self-employment  under  its  various  schemes.  During  the  last  five  years, NSTFDC has disbursed an amount of Rs. 39.96 cr to 11,967 tribal beneficiaries in Maharashtra under various schemes of NSTFDC.

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