Trifed conducts state-level webinars

Our Reporter
Dimapur, May 12 (EMN): Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (Trifed) has started conducting series of state-level webinars with all the stakeholders in coordination with state and district implementing agencies in order to review the state-wise progress under two programmes namely MSP for MFP scheme and Van Dhan Yojana and also the step taken by the state implementing agencies for operationalising the sanctioned 37,107 VDVKs and 2224 VDVK clusters sanctioned in the 23 states and 2 UTs.

A PIB report stated that the first of those webinars took place with the states of Manipur and Nagaland on May 10, which was attended by more than 70 participants including officials from state implementing agencies, mentors, team leaders and others. The webinar was also attended by UNICEF representatives to guide the VDVK members regarding safe practices during Covid, it stated.

Report stated that with good progress made in the states of Nagaland and Manipur regarding MFP and Van Dhan schemes, the focus is now on developing over 3500 VDVKs in the two states as focused growth centres. For each VDVK cluster (VDVKC), the below mentioned 5-step plan is being formulated:

Step 1: Involves the identification of items for procurement of MFPS in each VDVKC and strengthening it with a planned development of infrastructure including procurement sheds and go downs.

Step 2: Entails the appointment of local NGOs or NRLM officials as mentors for each cluster as per guidelines issued and release of money to each cluster by transferring INR 10 lakh to each cluster account.

Step 3: It require the preparation of a business plans for each cluster for taking up value addition and other formalities including opening of bank account and setting up of signages and boards for identification of each VDVK cluster and VDVK.

Step 4: It envisages the planning and facilitating of each cluster into production, branding, packaging and sale of its selected products as per the business plan.

Step 5: ESDP, SFURTI and TRIFOOD schemes will be converged with respective clusters gradually to expand the scope of programme.

The report informed that in the state of Manipur, there are 3000 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras subsumed into 200 Van Dhan Vikas Kendra clusters and approximately 60,000 tribal entrepreneurs are benefited. Whereas in the state of Nagaland, there are 3090 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras subsumed into 206 Van Dhan Vikas Kendra clusters and more than 61,000 tribal entrepreneurs are benefited.

As for the MSP for MFP scheme, as of now, 1 MFP is being procured in the state of Manipur and 6 infrastructure units have been established. Whereas, in Nagaland, 3 MFPs are being procured and 20 infrastructure units and 18 procurement centres have been set-up, the report stated.