Restoring Dignity and Livelihoods: Household Flour Mills for Tribal Empowerment in Gujarat’s Hills
Restoring Dignity and Livelihoods: Household Flour Mills for Tribal Empowerment in Gujarat’s Hills
Problem
- In the Chhotaudepur district, tribals faced difficulties in day-to-day household chores like grinding grains due to the unavailability of flour mill
- There was a threat to the life of tribal women as they have to go to hilly and mountainous regions for routine necessities
- People in these areas lacked awareness about government schemes
- Poor literacy rate and unavailability of required documents like caste and income certificate was another major problem
Solution
- A flour mill is provided to the needy at the village level and they are also guided to get the documents required to avail the benefits of the scheme
- Skill-based training was also provided to the tribal people for using flour mills
- Various tools and equipment were provided for pursuing traditional and other occupations in a better manner
- Many other benefits were also provided through the implementation of various schemes
Outcomes
- Flour mills helped to reduce the cost of grinding grains, increasing tribal people’s per capita income
- Flour mills at home provided safety to tribal women and empowered them too
- Because of this scheme, many issues were resolved leading to better road connectivity, improvement in literacy rate and increased awareness of government schemes among the people
- Almost 19,000 people benefited from this scheme and many more are benefiting as the scheme continues to work
Project Details
Category: Rural Livelihood
Project Title: A Step Towards Improving Livelihood by Providing Flour Mill in Hilly Areas
Department or District: Office of the Assistant Commissioner (Tribal Development), Chhotaudepur
State: Gujarat
Start Date of the Project: 1st November 2018
Website: https://tribal.gujarat.gov.in/
Tribe(s) that the Project Covers: Predominantly Scheduled Tribes living in Chhotaudepur and Kawant talukas of Gujarat such as Rathwa, Dhanka and Naikda.
Keywords: Flour Mill, Women Empowerment, Manav Garima Yojana, Tribal Livelihoods
The Office of the Assistant Commissioner (Tribal Development), Chhotaudepur launched an innovative livelihood project to provide household flour mills to tribal families living in remote hilly areas. The initiative emerged from a deep understanding of the daily struggles faced by tribal women, who were walking long distances through treacherous terrain to grind grains—risking safety and spending hours on a task essential for survival. This burden not only affected household nutrition but limited women’s participation in income-generating activities. By equipping homes with small-scale flour mills under the Manav Garima Yojana toolkit scheme, the project addressed multiple layers of hardship while enhancing self-reliance.
The Project
This intervention involved distributing flour mills to 19,000 tribal beneficiaries across the Chhotaudepur district. These units were provided under the Manav Garima Yojana, a flagship scheme of Gujarat’s Tribal Development Department, known for distributing various toolkits to promote traditional livelihoods. The project particularly focused on villages in Chhotaudepur and Kawant talukas, where flour mills were entirely absent. Local officials approached the most vulnerable families, assisted them with documentation, and coordinated with Gujarat Rural Industries Marketing Corporation Limited (GRIMCO) to supply the mills. The programme not only introduced flour milling capabilities at the household level but included skill-based training to ensure effective usage.
Problems that it Intends to Solve
The project addressed three pressing issues. Firstly, the absence of flour mills in remote villages led to unsafe, time-consuming journeys for tribal women through mountainous regions, exposing them to physical risk. Secondly, time spent on grinding activities reduced availability for other income-generating or educational activities. Thirdly, with low per capita income and poor access to local infrastructure, tribal households were entirely dependent on outside services for basic needs. The project aimed to localise flour production, improve safety and convenience, and create new skill-based livelihood opportunities for tribal families.
What was the Need
The project was necessary because of the severe physical, economic, and social burden placed on tribal women for a task as basic as grinding grains. In many villages, including Turkheda of Kawant, there was not a single flour mill. The region’s topography made it unsafe and inefficient for women to travel daily for this purpose. Additionally, existing development schemes failed to reach the most remote pockets. The need for a decentralised, home-based solution that improved household functioning, enhanced women’s autonomy, and aligned with the state’s tribal development goals was both urgent and justified.
What Hindered its Introduction
Several structural barriers delayed the project’s launch. Tribal communities had limited awareness of available welfare schemes and lacked the necessary documents such as caste and income certificates. Poor literacy rates and communication difficulties further impeded outreach. Infrastructure challenges were significant—many villages lacked mobile connectivity, all-weather roads, and transportation options. The terrain itself posed logistical difficulties in transporting flour mills to remote destinations. Administrative coordination with multiple agencies, including GRIMCO and the state headquarters, added further complexity.
Process Followed for Implementation
The process began with on-ground assessment of villages in Chhotaudepur and Kawant talukas to identify the scale of need. Officials conducted door-to-door visits and engaged with potential beneficiaries to explain the programme and help with document preparation. Forms were distributed at the village level. After completing the documentation, requests were submitted to the Commissioner of Tribal Development in Gandhinagar. Gujarat Rural Industries Marketing Corporation Limited (GRIMCO) was tasked with supplying the mills. Local officers ensured timely delivery and followed up with training on machine use and maintenance. The goal was to make every eligible household self-sufficient in this essential daily task.
- Government
- The project was conceptualised and implemented by the Office of the Assistant Commissioner (Tribal Development), Chhotaudepur, under the Commissionerate of Tribal Development, Government of Gujarat. GRIMCO functioned as the executing partner for equipment supply. Coordination with local revenue offices helped facilitate documentation and identify genuine beneficiaries.
- Involvement of Community
- Tribal families were engaged from the outset, with outreach conducted directly at the village level. Women were consulted about their needs, and community members participated in beneficiary identification. Guidance was provided on completing forms, collecting supporting documents, and understanding usage. Community endorsement helped ensure that the project was accepted and utilised as intended.
Solutions Implemented
The solution included direct provision of household flour mills through Manav Garima Yojana, coordinated procurement through GRIMCO, and training of beneficiaries for equipment use. The intervention localised an essential function—grain milling—within the household, reducing external dependency and improving time efficiency. Beneficiaries received technical guidance and administrative support, ensuring successful adoption and maintenance of the units.
The programme covered 19,000 tribal individuals in Chhotaudepur district, where Scheduled Tribes constitute nearly 80% of the population. Implementation was focused particularly on inaccessible villages in Chhotaudepur and Kawant talukas. Priority was given to households that were geographically isolated and economically disadvantaged.
Innovation and Unique Features
The project’s innovation lies in its simplicity and directness. It repurposed an existing state scheme—the Manav Garima Yojana—to address a highly localised but critical challenge. While previous toolkits focused on income generation through trades, this intervention used a domestic activity—grain grinding—as a pivot for women’s empowerment. By reducing travel time and risk, the project improved safety, health, and dignity for tribal women, while also increasing economic productivity.
New Approaches: Tech integration, capacity building, culturally sensitive methods
While the project did not rely on digital technologies, it embedded training and orientation into the distribution process. This skill development component respected the existing knowledge base of tribal communities while introducing new techniques. The method of engagement—village-level visits, individual consultations, and respect for linguistic and cultural norms—ensured cultural sensitivity and high uptake.
Co-creation: How tribal knowledge or leadership shaped the solution
The project was shaped by grassroots knowledge gathered during consultations with tribal women who described the physical and time-related challenges of accessing flour mills. Their lived experience directly informed the decision to prioritise domestic equipment. Local insights helped shape distribution priorities, while beneficiaries were involved in verifying needs and receiving training.
The project initially focused on Turkheda village, where need was most acute, and later expanded across Chhotaudepur district. Implementation strategies evolved based on documentation delays and transport challenges. Additional training modules were added when teams realised that technical usage knowledge varied widely among beneficiaries. Distribution methods were modified to accommodate the remote locations.
Challenges Faced Before Implementation
Internally, the department had to address low levels of awareness among tribal populations about available schemes. There was a lack of proper documentation like income or caste certificates among many eligible families. Administrative bottlenecks slowed coordination between district offices and GRIMCO, especially during demand aggregation. Staffing capacity also limited the speed of field visits and data collection.
The region’s mountainous terrain and lack of all-weather roads made transportation of flour mills difficult. Several villages had no mobile networks, preventing easy communication with beneficiaries. There was a general distrust of government schemes due to past delays or unmet promises. Poor literacy rates complicated document preparation and instruction delivery.
Local teams conducted direct household visits to guide families through form-filling and certification. Transportation was coordinated in batches to cover clusters of remote villages efficiently. Demonstrations were held on-site to build user confidence. Social mobilisation campaigns reassured communities about the scheme’s authenticity and value.
Challenges Faced During Implementation
The large scale of distribution required meticulous inventory and coordination. Managing feedback, technical issues, and beneficiary tracking strained the team. Variations in household power supply and handling capacity created sporadic issues with equipment functionality. Ensuring all beneficiaries received training posed logistical hurdles.
In some households, initial use was delayed due to unfamiliarity with equipment. The terrain continued to pose challenges for post-distribution follow-up. Community demand exceeded initial estimates, requiring the team to prepare for scale-up without compromising quality.
Field officers maintained follow-up visits to troubleshoot issues. Instruction manuals were simplified and distributed in local languages. Coordination with GRIMCO was improved through real-time reporting, and additional training was added where gaps were observed.
Outcomes
The project reached 19,000 tribal individuals. Time saved per household on flour milling was significant, with women reporting reduction in daily workload. Risk exposure from mountain travel dropped considerably.
Tribal women expressed a sense of empowerment and dignity from being able to manage household tasks independently. Reduced dependency on external resources increased household harmony and freed time for income-generating or educational pursuits. The initiative was seen as a government intervention that truly responded to people’s everyday realities.
Local teams tracked distribution and maintained contact with beneficiaries to assess usage and effectiveness. Feedback was documented for review by the Assistant Commissioner’s office. No formal digital dashboard was used, but field-level records enabled outcome tracking.
Primary beneficiaries were tribal women and families in villages of Chhotaudepur and Kawant talukas, especially in remote and high-risk terrains.
Replicability / Scalability / Sustainability
The project aligns with the objectives of the Manav Garima Yojana and the state’s broader tribal development strategy.
Since flour mills are capital equipment with minimal maintenance cost, ongoing financial support is not required. Households can maintain usage independently.
Given its low-cost and high-impact model, this project is highly replicable in tribal regions across India where topographical and infrastructural barriers limit access to essential services.
