Skill Upgradation and Livelihood Generation in Tribal Rajasthan by Rajasthan Tribal Area Cooperative Federation Ltd, Government of Rajasthan
Livelihood Generation through Skill Upgradation, Value Addition of Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) & Marketing.
Problem
- Economic Vulnerability: High poverty and economic backwardness among the tribal community
- Cultural and Technological Barriers: Socio-cultural handicaps and technological limitations hindered development
- Middlemen Exploitation: Tribal commodities undervalued due to intermediary interference
Solution
- The scheme aimed to create tribal entrepreneurs
- Integration of Various Schemes: Combined Van Dhan Yojana with ESDP, Mini-Trifold, and SFURTI
- Behavioural Change Focus: Van Dhan Yojana emphasised progressive behavioural changes
- Inclusivity and Empowerment: Ensured 60% tribal beneficiary ratio, with an emphasis on women empowerment
- Training and Skill Development: Master trainers engaged to upskill beneficiaries
Outcomes
- 16 of the 479 centers have been activated
- Broad Reach: The initiative impacted 144,803 households across 8 districts
- Empowerment and Entrepreneurship: Focused on women entrepreneurship, leadership and socio-economic upliftment
- One Van Dhan Vikas Kendra nationally recognised for selling products worth Rs 24.30 lakhs
- Transformation observed from pre-deployment unawareness to post-deployment skill upgradation
Project Details
Category: Skill Upgradation and Livelihood Generation
Project: Livelihood Generation through Skill Upgradation and Value Addition of NTFP and Marketing
Organisation: Rajasthan Tribal Area Development Co-operative Federation Ltd, Udaipur, Government of Rajasthan
Start Date: 04-Apr-2017
Problem
Tribal areas in Rajasthan faced multiple challenges, severely affecting their livelihood and well-being. Persistent poverty, combined with economic and technological underdevelopment, hindered the community’s progress. Additionally, socio-cultural barriers acted as obstacles to growth and empowerment. The inability to get fair prices for tribal commodities, primarily due to middlemen’s interference, further exacerbated the situation, ensuring the community remained exploited and economically disadvantaged.
Solution
To address these issues, a comprehensive initiative was undertaken to foster tribal entrepreneurship. The Van Dhan Yojana was not only integrated with schemes like ESDP, Mini-Trifold, and SFURTI but also focused on fostering behavioural changes that would drive the community from local to global contexts. Central to this initiative was the principle of inclusivity. At least 60% of the beneficiaries in each Van Dhan Kendra were from the tribal community, ensuring they derived maximum benefits. Additionally, there was a distinct focus on uplifting women, fostering empowerment, and promoting entrepreneurship. To ensure the community had the skills to prosper, master trainers were brought in, emphasizing the value addition of Minor Forest Produce.
Outcomes
The impact of the solutions was profound. Out of 479 centers planned, 16 were successfully operationalized, catering to 144,803 households across 8 districts of Rajasthan. This was not just about numbers but about the transformational change it brought, especially in terms of women empowerment and leadership. One of the Van Dhan Vikas Kendras stood out nationally, registering sales of value-added products worth Rs 24.30 lakhs. Moreover, the shift from pre-deployment unawareness about NTFPs and their potential to a post-deployment scenario of trained skills and product manufacturing was testament to the program’s success. This change facilitated skill enhancement, income generation, employment opportunities, and, most importantly, the socio-economic upliftment of the tribal community.