TRIFED | Tribes India | UPSC

• Promote sustainable livelihood systems for tribal people by  marketing development and ensuring remunerative price for their products.
• Provide minimum support price and value addition of Non-Timber Forest Produce (Minor Forest Produce).
• Empower them through meticulous capacity building.
• Augment their resources substantially.
• Develop marketing partnership with Central/State Government agencies.

APPROACH

• It involves capacity building of the tribal people through sensitization.
• Formation of Self Help Groups (SHGs) and imparting training.
• Exploring marketing possibilities in national as well as international markets.
• Creating opportunities for marketing tribal products on a sustainable basis.
• Creating a brand and providing other services.

ACTIVITIES

TRIFED undertakes activities with respect to its two main divisions viz.

• Minor Forest Produce (MFP) development 
• Retail Marketing and Development

a)MINOR FOREST PRODUCE (MFP) DEVELOPMENT

• An important source of livelihood for tribal people are non-wood forest products, generally termed Minor Forest Produce (MFP).

• The Minor Forest Produces provide both subsistence and cash income for people who live in or near forests.
• They form a major portion of their food, fruits, medicines and other consumption items and also provide cash income through sales.

b)RETAIL MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT

• TRIFED aims to improve the livelihood of the tribal communities by creating a sustainable market for tribal people.

• It has been undertaking sourcing of various handicraft, handloom and natural & food products through TRIFED .
• It has established a chain of 35 own showrooms and 8 consignment showrooms in association with State level Organisations promoting tribal handicrafts.

ACTIVITIES

EMPANELMENT OF TRIBAL PRODUCER/TRIBAL ARTISANS

• Approaching district Collectors /ITDA and district level officers who work with tribal artisans.
• Contacting craft persons.
• Artisans who have been trained by TRIFED and other organisations.
• Field visits and organising of Tribal Artisan Melas (TAMs) .

VANDHAN VIKAS KARYAKRAM

• The collection and sale of MFPs contribute to roughly 40% to 60% of the annual earnings of the tribal people, women in particular.
• Women in tribal areas are the ones who primarily collect, process, use and sell the minor forest produces.

BACKROUND

• The Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes Commission appointed by the President of India on 28 April 1960 pursuant to Article 339 of the Constitution of India.
• In its report of 14 October 1961 stated that “As these groups are presumed to form the oldest ethnological sector of the population, the term “Adivasi” (‘Adi’= original and ‘Vasi’= inhabitant) has become current among certain people.
• The Government of India has initiated a number of steps to develop socio economic conditions of tribal population in the country. 
• One of those initiatives led to the formation of Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED).

EXISTENCE