Lok Sabha Question No. 3026 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: Review of TRIFED Initiatives
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar, Shri Manickam Tagore B, Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3026

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 07.08.2025

## REVIEW OF TRIFED INITIATIVES

## 3026. SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR:

## SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B:

## SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH:

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

(a) whether the Government has undertaken any recent review of the functioning, performance, and outcomes of the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) and  if  so,  the  details  of  such  review  including  the  methodology  adopted,  major  findings  and shortcomings identified;

- (b) the quantum of financial assistance provided to TRIFED during the last five years, year-wise;
- (c) the measurable impact of TRIFED's initiatives such as Van Dhan Yojana and Tribes India outlets on the income and livelihoods of tribal artisans and forest-produce gatherers;
- (d) whether there have been any delays or gaps in procurement, marketing or disbursement of payments to tribal beneficiaries under TRIFED programmes and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the steps being taken to expand TRIFED's operations in remote and Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected tribal areas;
- (f)  whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  restructure  or  reform  TRIFED  to  enhance  its efficiency,  market  linkage  and  transparency  in  dealings  with  tribal  communities  and  if  so, the details thereof; and

(g) whether any third-party evaluation or audit of TRIFED's schemes has been conducted recently and if so, the findings thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) The review of schemes and programmes implemented by TRIFED is a routine process which is undertaken from time to time. The challenges faced by TRIFED are broadly related to demand of tribal products in the market, delayed utilization of funds by State Implementing Agencies and market linkages.

(b) The financial assistance provided to TRIFED in the last five years is given below:

| Year                   |   2020-21 |   2021-22 |   2022-23 |   2023-24 |   2024-25 |
|------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Amount (Rs. in crores) |    170.74 |     255.9 |    135.27 |    151.28 |     111.7 |

- (c) & (d) So far, TRIFED has sanctioned 4130 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) under Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) scheme associating 12,35,308 beneficiaries and 531 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) VDVKs under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adiwasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) associating 45,480 beneficiaries. All these VDVKs have reported sale of tribal products amounting to Rs. 129.86 crores till date. Besides, TRIFED has undertaken procurement worth Rs. 97.18 crores from their empanelled tribal artisans / SHGs in the  last  five  years  for  marketing  through  its  Tribes  India  outlets  and  multiple  eCommerce platforms.  There  are  generally  no  delays/gaps  in  procurement,  marketing  or  disbursement  of payments to tribal artisans/suppliers.
- (e)  VDVKs set  up  under  PM-JANMAN and PMJVM takes care of promotional activities  for livelihood of PVTGs and other tribal communities located in remote areas as well as Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected tribal areas.
- (f) At present the Ministry do not have any plan for restructure of TRIFED.
- (g)  No  third-party  review  of  the  schemes  implemented  though  TRIFED  has  been  conducted recently.

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