Lok Sabha Question No. 172 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-01-29
Subject: Initiatives to Support Tribal Entrepreneurs
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, Shri Krishna Prasad Tenneti

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 172

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 29 th  JANUARY 2026

## Initiatives to Support Tribal Entrepreneurs

## 172. Shri Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy: Shri Krishna Prasad Tenneti:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- a) the details regarding the list of schemes, initiatives and programmes undertaken by the Government to support and grow entrepreneurs and businesses of individuals belonging to tribal communities across India, especially in Andhra Pradesh;
2. (b) the details regarding the total funding allocated, released and utilised to support and grow tribal entrepreneurs under the said schemes and initiatives during the last five years, scheme-wise and State-wise, especially in Andhra Pradesh;
3. (c)  the  details  regarding  the  total  number  of  beneficiaries,  male,  female  and  others,  covered  under  the  said schemes and initiatives during the last five years, scheme-wise and State-wise, especially in Andhra Pradesh; and
4. (d)  whether  the  Government has undertaken any  steps to increase awareness regarding  the above-mentioned schemes and initiatives for tribal entrepreneurs, if so, the details thereof, especially in Andhra Pradesh?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  to  (c):  The  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  through  its  two  agencies  namely  Tribal  Co-operative  Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) & National Scheduled Tribes Finance & Development Corporation (NSTFDC)  has  contributed  significantly  to  support  and  grow  entrepreneurs  and  businesses  of  individuals belonging to tribal communities across India.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the scheme 'Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM)' through TRIFED which envisions to strengthen tribal entrepreneurship initiatives and to facilitate livelihood opportunities by promoting more efficient, equitable, self-managed, optimum use of natural resources, Agri / Minor Forest Produce (MFPs) / Non-farm produce. Under the scheme, financial support of INR 15.00 lakhs is provided to the State Governments for setting up each Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) which are the centers of value addition activities of MFPs/Non-MFPs. Since the inception of the program in 2019-20, an amount of Rs. 621.13 crores has been sanctioned for establishment of 4125 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) associating 12.33  lakh  members.  Additionally,  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Janjati  Adivasi  Nyaya  Maha  Abhiyan  (PM-

JANMAN) initiative,  an  amount  of  Rs.  22.98  crores  has  been  sanctioned  for  establishment  of  539  VDVKs associating 45,924 members. State-wise details of the same, including Andhra Pradesh is given at Annexure-I .

Additionally,  TRIFED  provides  backward  and  forward  linkages  for  tribal  artisans  and  suppliers, facilitating the marketing of tribal products across various categories, including metal craft, textiles, jewelry, paintings, cane and bamboo, terracotta and pottery, as well as organic and natural food products. These products are  marketed through both online and offline platforms. Furthermore, TRIFED organizes and participates in festivals, exhibitions, and trade fairs to provide a platform for tribal artisans to showcase their products, connect with potential buyers, and enhance their entrepreneurial opportunities.

The  National  Scheduled  Tribes  Finance  and  Development  Corporation  (NSTFDC),  a  Central  Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, facilitates credit linkage by providing concessional loans  to  eligible  Scheduled  Tribe  individuals/SHGs  for  undertaking  income-generating  activities  and  selfemployment, thereby fostering entrepreneurship. The key schemes of NSTFDC are as follows:

-  Term Loan Scheme: NSTFDC extends financial assistance for viable projects costing up to ₹50 lakh per unit. Under this scheme, up to 90% of the project cost is funded, with the remaining amount covered through subsidy, promoter contribution, or margin money.
-  Adivasi  Mahila  Sashaktikaran  Yojana  (AMSY):  A  dedicated  scheme  for  the  economic  empowerment  of Scheduled Tribe women, providing loans of up to ₹2 lakh per project at a highly concessional interest rate of 4% per annum, covering up to 90% of the project cost.
-  Micro  Credit  Scheme  for  Self-Help  Groups  (MCF):  Designed  exclusively  for  Self-Help  Groups  (SHGs)  to address the small loan requirements of Scheduled Tribe members. Under this scheme, loans of up to ₹50,000 per member and a maximum of ₹5 lakh per SHG are provided.
-  Adivasi Shiksha Rrinn Yojana (ASRY): An education loan scheme aimed at supporting Scheduled Tribe students in pursuing technical and professional education, including Ph.D. programs, in India. Financial assistance of up to ₹10 lakh per eligible family is provided at a concessional interest rate of 6% per annum.

State-wise amount of loans disbursed and beneficiaries assisted, including Andhra Pradesh, under the schemes of NSTFDC in the last three years is given at Annexure-II .

The  Ministry  has  also  launched  Venture  Capital  Fund  for  Scheduled  Tribes  (VCF-ST)  to  promote entrepreneurship in India among the Scheduled Tribes by providing concessional finance to them. Till date, an amount of Rs. 8.41 crore has been sanctioned in 2 cases (Chhattisgarh & Telangana) under the said scheme.

(d) Apart from regular dissemination of scheme information through social media, seminars, radio, television etc.; the central and state implementing agencies of the schemes undertakes awareness generation and propagation of scheme benefits through participation in local melas, fairs, exhibitions, tribal artisan empanelment melas and other government / public events.

## Annexure-I as referred to in reply to Part (a) to (c) of LSUQ No. 172 for answer on 29.01.2026 regarding 'Initiatives to Support Tribal Entrepreneurs'

## State-wise details of PMJVM VDVKs

| State / UT                           |   No. of VDVKs sanctioned |   Total No. of Beneficiaries |   Funds Sanctioned (Rs. In lakhs) |
|--------------------------------------|---------------------------|------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh                       |                       415 |                       123258 |                           6162.9  |
| Arunachal Pradesh                    |                       106 |                        32897 |                           1590    |
| Assam                                |                       495 |                       150765 |                           7425    |
| Chhattisgarh                         |                       139 |                        41700 |                           2085    |
| Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu |                         1 |                          302 |                             15    |
| Goa                                  |                        10 |                         3000 |                            150    |
| Gujarat                              |                       200 |                        57968 |                           2895.65 |
| Himachal Pradesh                     |                         4 |                         1110 |                             55.5  |
| Jammu &Kashmir                       |                       100 |                        29791 |                           1457    |
| Jharkhand                            |                       146 |                        43701 |                           2174.7  |
| Karnataka                            |                       140 |                        41748 |                           2087.4  |
| Kerala                               |                        44 |                        12038 |                            597.25 |
| Ladakh                               |                        10 |                         3000 |                            150    |
| Madhya Pradesh                       |                       126 |                        37860 |                           1890    |
| Maharashtra                          |                       279 |                        83850 |                           4185    |
| Manipur                              |                       207 |                        62226 |                           3088.45 |
| Meghalaya                            |                       169 |                        50835 |                           2534.1  |
| Mizoram                              |                       286 |                        84268 |                           4211.55 |
| Nagaland                             |                       347 |                       104068 |                           5203.4  |
| Odisha                               |                       170 |                        50094 |                           2479.25 |
| Rajasthan                            |                       505 |                       152362 |                           7513.55 |
| Sikkim                               |                        80 |                        23801 |                           1169.05 |
| Tamil Nadu                           |                         8 |                         2400 |                            120    |
| Telangana                            |                        17 |                         5100 |                            255    |
| Tripura                              |                        57 |                        16116 |                            776    |
| Uttar Pradesh                        |                        25 |                         7238 |                            359.55 |
| Uttarakhand                          |                        12 |                         3605 |                            179.95 |
| West Bengal                          |                        27 |                         8227 |                            402.45 |
| Total                                |                      4125 |                      1233328 |                          61212.7  |

## State-wise details of PM-JANMAN VDVKs

| S. No.   | State / District   |   VDVK Sanctioned | Beneficiaries   |   Fund Sanctioned (Rs. in lakhs) |
|----------|--------------------|-------------------|-----------------|----------------------------------|
| 1        | A &N               |                 1 | 56              |                             2.8  |
| 2        | Andhra Pradesh     |                73 | 6,162           |                           307.55 |
| 3        | Chhattisgarh       |                16 | 2395            |                           119.75 |
| 4        | Gujarat            |                21 | 1,050           |                            52.5  |
| 5        | Jharkhand          |                35 | 2,876           |                           143.8  |
| 6        | Maharashtra        |                40 | 3,624           |                           181.2  |
| 7        | Manipur            |                 2 | 600             |                            30    |
| 8        | Telangana          |                25 | 1,427           |                            73.05 |
| 9        | Tripura            |                30 | 2,550           |                           127.5  |
| 10       | Rajasthan          |                51 | 8,842           |                           442.1  |
| 11       | Karnataka          |                33 | 1,836           |                            91.8  |
| 12       | Kerala             |                 7 | 537             |                            26.85 |
| 13       | Madhya Pradesh     |                83 | 5,091           |                           254.5  |
| 14       | Odisha             |                66 | 5,244           |                           262.95 |
| 15       | Tamil Nadu         |                37 | 2,403           |                           120.15 |
| 16       | Uttar Pradesh      |                 5 | 319             |                            15.95 |
| 17       | Uttarakhand        |                 9 | 634             |                            31.7  |
| 18       | West Bengal        |                 5 | 278             |                            13.9  |
| TOTAL    | TOTAL              |               539 | 45,924          |                          2298.05 |

## Annexure-II as referred to in reply to Part (a) to (c) of LSUQ No. 172 for answer on 29.01.2026 regarding 'Initiatives to Support Tribal Entrepreneurs'

## State-wise amount of loans disbursed and beneficiaries under the schemes of NSTFDC in the last three years

| S. No.   |                     | 2022-23         | 2022-23              | 2023-24         | 2023-24              | 2024-25         | 2024-25              |
|----------|---------------------|-----------------|----------------------|-----------------|----------------------|-----------------|----------------------|
| S. No.   | State               | Amt. (in lakhs) | No. of beneficiaries | Amt. (in lakhs) | No. of beneficiaries | Amt. (in lakhs) | No. of beneficiaries |
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh      | 4119.80         | 13669                | 5551.49         | 27221                | 6039.21         | 12899                |
| 2        | Andaman& Nicobar    | -               | -                    | 0               | 0                    | 0               | 0                    |
| 3        | Arunachal Pradesh   | 699.90          | 1835                 | 25.77           | 13                   | 17.88           | 17                   |
| 4        | Assam               | -               | -                    | 40.02           | 43                   | 24.24           | 21                   |
| 5        | Bihar               | -               | -                    | 3.06            | 3                    | 0               | 0                    |
| 6        | Chhattisgarh        | 295.69          | 1216                 | 227.29          | 503                  | 499.43          | 4837                 |
| 7        | Dadra &Nagar Haveli | -               | -                    | 4.55            | 6                    | 0               | 0                    |
| 8        | Goa                 | -               | -                    | 0.22            | 1                    | 0               | 0                    |
| 9        | Gujarat             | 1019.61         | 5224                 | 2810.12         | 11848                | 4931.39         | 18461                |
| 10       | Haryana             | -               | -                    | 0               | 0                    | 0               | 0                    |
| 11       | Himachal Pradesh    | 56.90           | 120                  | 2.19            | 2                    | 30.60           | 33                   |
| 12       | Jammu& Kashmir      | 1272.54         | 535                  | 295.19          | 106                  | 1102.49         | 409                  |
| 13       | Jharkhand           | 3.00            | 756                  | 684.25          | 1703                 | 247.45          | 135                  |
| 14       | Karnataka           | 1582.42         | 1927                 | 853.41          | 1003                 | 1854.44         | 1368                 |
| 15       | Kerala              | 720.73          | 666                  | 446.74          | 258                  | 684.80          | 567                  |
|          | Ladakh              |                 |                      |                 |                      | 73.53           | 13                   |
| 16       | Madhya Pradesh      | 5392.05         | 10857                | 1759.58         | 828                  | 1660.72         | 1582                 |
| 17       | Maharashtra         | 658.19          | 1204                 | 2523.52         | 1528                 | 567.76          | 1005                 |
| 18       | Manipur             | 25.00           | 57                   | 235.49          | 174                  | 102.80          | 65                   |
| 19       | Meghalaya           | 470.60          | 1227                 | 475.91          | 1193                 | 298.09          | 112                  |
| 20       | Mizoram             | 5295.74         | 3584                 | 6856.69         | 4573                 | 6948.28         | 3529                 |
| 21       | Nagaland            | 20.39           | 1                    | 1199.77         | 771                  | 627.08          | 282                  |
| 22       | Odisha              | 63.19           | 4337                 | 362.35          | 17025                | 883.56          | 15045                |
| 23       | Rajasthan           | 789.35          | 1856                 | 712.22          | 885                  | 130.16          | 1091                 |
| 24       | Sikkim              | -               | -                    | 34.23           | 27                   | 201.63          | 46                   |
| 25       | Tamil Nadu          | 1087.13         | 3403                 | 3265.67         | 7327                 | 1210.39         | 6437                 |
| 26       | Telangana           | 4583.99         | 11861                | 3218.52         | 11369                | 5174.31         | 10777                |
| 27       | Tripura             | 48.02           | 20                   | 2014.62         | 2234                 | 1695.98         | 569                  |

| 28   | Uttar Pradesh   |        - |     - |     3.37 |     4 |     1.92 |     2 |
|------|-----------------|----------|-------|----------|-------|----------|-------|
| 29   | Uttarakhand     |    81.42 |   244 |    32.59 |     8 |    85.81 |   628 |
| 30   | West Bengal     |  1643.34 |  8393 |  1526.59 |  4486 |  2233.75 |  8828 |
|      | Total           | 29929    | 72992 | 24221.1  | 52432 | 37327.7  | 88758 |

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