The Union Minister of Tribal affairs Shri Arjun Munda has said, “The government is taking up ambitious transformational programmes which will prove to be game changer for the tribal livelihoods in times to come”. Shri Arjun Munda was speaking at the onboarding of two major initiatives for boosting tribal livelihoods, one with signing of MoU between TRIFED and Big Basket and the other of MoU between TRIFED and PurtyAgrotech of Jharkhand in New Delhi today.
Addressing on the occasion, the Minister added that as we celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, it is the vision of the Prime Minister that we reach out to the person at the last mile and works towards establishing an Atmanirbhar Bharat. He further remarked that it is in this spirit that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIFED are working on a war footing to bring about social and economic empowermentof tribal people through large number of such initiatives.
The MoU between TRIFED and Big Basketis for the promotion and sale of the natural Van Dhan products through Big Basket platform while MoUbetween TRIFED and PurtyAgrotechwill promote the art of growing pearls among other tribal entrepreneurs across India and tap the potential of this market.
The Union Minister explained that the Tribal artisans, tribal producers, their products and livelihood programmes are the focus of the Prime Minister. He further elaborated that now the tribal products are being brought into the market through value addition and ensuring outstanding quality with the help of research and design through TRIFED and various initiatives of M/o Tribal Affairs. The tribal people have hidden talents and a great potential for making excellent products and they believe in “Mera Van – MeraDhan – MeraUdhyam”. As a nation, it is our duty to ensure that their skills, arts and crafts are not lost for posterity,therefore these programmes have been launched today to benefit the tribals countrywide, the Minister added.
Speaking at the occasion Shri Pravir Krishna, Managing Director, TRIFED said that TRIFED is working day and night to find new and better marketing opportunities both domestically and internationally for the unique tribal products and Minor forest produce. He further added that these two new initiatives will become operational from 2nd October this year and will give a new thrust to tribal livelihoods.
TRIFED is continuing to forge partnerships with different organisations to create synergies together, as a part of its ongoing efforts to improve the lives and livelihoods of the tribals and tribal empowerment. In this context, TRIFED has tied up with Big Basket, an established E-grocery platform that will also work for the promotion and sale of the natural Van Dhan products being made available to them from VAN DHAN production units.
TRIFED and Big Baskethave entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on 20 September, 2021. The MoU was exchanged between Sh.Seshu Kumar,Chief Merchandising Officer(CMO), BIG BASKET and Shri Pravir Krishna, Managing Director, TRIFED in thepresence of Shri Arjun Munda, Minister for Tribal Affairs and senior officials of both organisations. TRIFED by converging with Big Basket can leverage their infrastructure, expertise and reach in order to make the Organics, Naturals and TRIFOOD Van Dhan products available to a wider clientele across the country. It will also enable Big Basket to enrich its portfolio by inclusion of hand-made authentic forest products sourced by the tribal population. This collaboration will also promote Big Basket’s social cause by means of promoting tribal entrepreneurship and generating livelihood opportunity for the tribals.
