Lok Sabha Question No. 1027 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-05
Subject: Livelihood Programmes for Tribals in Assam
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Md. Rakibul Hussain

## 1027. Md. Rakibul Hussain:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has reviewed the effectiveness of livelihood and income-generation programmes for tribal communities in Assam;
- (b) the details of skill development, entrepreneurship and forest-based livelihood initiatives implemented in the State;
- (c) the number of beneficiaries covered under these initiatives, district-wise; and
- (d) the outcomes achieved in terms of employment generation and income enhancement?

## ANSWER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1027 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 5 th  FEBRUARY, 2026

## Livelihood Programmes for Tribals in Assam

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

(a)  to  (d): 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) is providing  support  to  individuals  belonging  to  tribal  communities  across  India  in  the  areas  of livelihood, entrepreneurship and income generation.

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 Rs. 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, 495 VDVKs have been sanctioned with funds amounting to Rs. 7425 lakhs, associating 1,50,765 members in Assam. Details of  the  same  is  given  at Annexure-I .  Out  of  these,  359  VDVKs  have  been  reported  as  operationalized  with reported sales of Rs. 1623.36 lakh.

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. In Assam, 1087 tribal artisans/suppliers associated with 9543 families have been empaneled and 05 Tribes India outlets have also been set up. Details of the Tribes India outlets in Assam is given below:

|   S. No | Outlet Name                                                            | Address                                                                |
|---------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Tribes India, Shilpgram                                                | NEZCC Campus, Near Sakardev, Kalashetra, Guwahati                      |
|       2 | Tribes India, Manipur Bhawan                                           | Manipur Bhawan, ASEB Road, Guwahati                                    |
|       3 | Tribes India, Artfed                                                   | A K Azad Road, Rahabari, Guwhati                                       |
|       4 | Tribes India, Airport, GuwahatiDeparture Lounge Area, Guwahati Airport | Tribes India, Airport, GuwahatiDeparture Lounge Area, Guwahati Airport |
|       5 | Tribes India, Bongaigaon                                               | BGR Township Shipping Complex, Chirang, BTR Assam.                     |

Further,  under  Minimum  Support  Price  (MSP)  for  Minor  Forest  Produce  (MFP)  component  under  PMJVM scheme, revolving funds amounting to Rs. 66.935 lakh have been released to the State of Assam for procurement of MFPs against which 191.11 MT of MFPs amounting to Rs. 102.41 lakh has been reported procured so far.

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 self-employment, 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.

In the State of Assam, NSTFDC has disbursed loans amounting to Rs. 64.26 lakhs to 64 beneficiaries in the last three years.

## Annexure-I as referred to in reply to part (a) to (d) of LSUQ no. 1027 for answer on 05.02.2026 regarding Livelihood Programmes for Tribals in Assam

## District-wise details of VDVK members in the state of Assam

|          |                    | Total   | Total   |
|----------|--------------------|---------|---------|
| S.NoName | of District        | VDVKs   | Members |
| 1        | Baksa              | 25      | 7830    |
| 2        | Bajali             | 1       | 300     |
| 3        | Barpeta            | 2       | 600     |
| 4        | Biswanath          | 16      | 4930    |
| 5        | Bongaigaon         | 3       | 900     |
| 6        | Cachar             | 4       | 1255    |
| 7        | Charaideo          | 13      | 3900    |
| 8        | Chirang            | 23      | 6966    |
| 9        | Darrang            | 11      | 3300    |
| 10       | Dhemaji            | 37      | 11224   |
| 11       | Dhubri             | 6       | 1800    |
| 12       | Dibrugarh          | 10      | 3070    |
| 13       | Dima Hasao         | 15      | 4510    |
| 14       | East Karbi Anglong | 11      | 3384    |
| 15       | Golaghat           | 9       | 2740    |
| 16       | Goalpara           | 20      | 6208    |
| 17       | Hailakandi         | 6       | 1800    |
| 18       | Hojai              | 9       | 2780    |
| 19       | Jorhat             | 6       | 1800    |
| 20       | Kamrup (M)         | 14      | 4237    |
| 21       | Kamrup (R)         | 15      | 4548    |
| 22       | Karimganj          | 6       | 1800    |
| 23       | Kokrajhar          | 31      | 9471    |
| 24       | Majuli             | 23      | 6910    |
| 25       | Morigaon           | 10      | 3000    |

| 26    | Nagaon             |   13 |   3970 |
|-------|--------------------|------|--------|
| 27    | Nalbari            |    7 |   2109 |
| 28    | North Lakhimpur    |   22 |   6610 |
| 29    | Sanitpur           |   19 |   5752 |
| 30    | Sivasagar          |   10 |   3070 |
| 31    | Tamulpur           |   15 |   4580 |
| 32    | Tinsukia           |   13 |   3970 |
| 33    | Udalguri           |   49 |  14915 |
| 34    | West Karbi Anglong |   21 |   6526 |
| Total | Total              |  495 | 150765 |

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