Thumbnail: Viksit Haryana | PMJVM — 4,172 Van Dhan Kendras, Rs 168 crore in sales
Money from the forest is finally reaching tribal families directly, instead of stopping with middlemen. Under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM), 4,172 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras have been set up across India, linking 12.48 lakh tribal members to the scheme.
These Kendras have recorded sales of nearly Rs 168 crore. The update comes just before Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas on 15 November, the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
What is PMJVM and how does it work?
The Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission is a scheme of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, launched in 2021-22. Its nodal agency is TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India), and it runs in 25 states and 3 Union Territories.
India has about 10.4 crore Scheduled Tribe people. For them, Minor Forest Produce (MFP) — honey, tendu leaves, mahua flowers, tamarind, lac, bamboo and wild herbs — accounts for 20 to 40 per cent of annual income.
For years, gatherers sold this produce to intermediaries at distress prices, earning less than the cost of their own labour. PMJVM changes that equation by organising gatherers, adding value to their produce and connecting them directly to markets.
What is a Van Dhan Vikas Kendra?
The mission mobilises tribal gatherers into Self-Help Groups (SHGs). A cluster of 15 SHGs — about 300 tribals — forms one Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK). At least 60 per cent of a Kendra’s members must be from Scheduled Tribe communities.
Kendras receive infrastructure support, primary processing equipment such as cutting and sieving tools, decorticators, dryers and packaging tools, and working capital through tie-ups with banks and the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC).
The Van Dhan Yojana, launched on 14 April 2018, forms the foundation of the VDVK model. Gatherers are also trained in scientific harvesting and value addition at the Kendras.
PMJVM at a glance
IndicatorFigureVDVKs sanctioned4,172VDVKs functional2,911 (as on 31 July 2026)Tribal members linked12.48 lakhReported salesAround Rs 168 crore (as on 31 July 2026)MFP items under MSP87Amount sanctionedRs 619.17 croreLaunched2021-22
How does MSP work for 87 forest produce items?
The government has notified a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 87 Minor Forest Produce items. TRIFED buys the produce at the pre-determined price through state implementing agencies, regardless of the market price.
Since 2013-14, state governments have procured 2,67,954 metric tonnes of MFP worth Rs 693.98 crore under the scheme. The Forest Rights Act, 2006 gives tribals the right to collect and sell non-timber forest produce.
More than 5,000 haats in tribal areas are also being modernised in phases — with permanent structures, storage, drinking water, shade and weighing equipment — so that produce can be sold where it is collected.
What does it mean for tribal women?
Most collection and sale of forest produce is done by women, making PMJVM a key instrument of tribal women’s financial empowerment. The women jointly own the enterprise — they are not mere workers but stakeholders in the brand.
Take the Nyigamane, Ho Yorbe, Medumhagdum VDVK in Leparada district of Arunachal Pradesh. Set up in October 2021 with 300 women SHG members, it turns local produce into King Chilli pickle, bamboo shoot pickle, turmeric and ginger powder, pineapple jam and squash, and orange squash.
The Kendra has sold Rs 11 lakh worth of products from 2022-23 onwards. Its members no longer depend only on seasonal agriculture for income through the year.
Why is this in the news now?
Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas falls on 15 November, the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, and the Janjatiya Gaurav Pakhwada runs from 1 to 15 November. The government released the fresh PMJVM backgrounder ahead of the Diwas.
During the fortnight, more than 300 projects for tribal communities are being inaugurated or given foundation stones, including a Tribal Research Institute building in Itanagar and the Ropuiliani Tribal Freedom Fighter Museum at Kelsih in Mizoram.
What to keep in mind
The PIB release gives no Haryana-specific VDVK count, so this article claims no state-wise figure. The scheme runs in 25 states and 3 Union Territories.
Second, Rs 168 crore is the total reported sales of functional Kendras — not profit per household. The release does not break down what each family earns.
Third, a VDVK is not a job recruitment. Kendras are formed through SHGs via State Implementing Agencies; families do not apply online as individuals. Check TRIFED or the Ministry of Tribal Affairs website for authentic details.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is PMJVM?
The Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission is a Ministry of Tribal Affairs scheme (since 2021-22). It organises tribal forest-produce gatherers into Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, adds value to their produce and guarantees MSP-based procurement.
Q2. How many Van Dhan Kendras exist?
4,172 Kendras have been sanctioned, of which 2,911 were functional as on 31 July 2026, linking 12.48 lakh tribal members.
Q3. How much have the Kendras sold?
Functional Kendras reported sales of around Rs 168 crore as on 31 July 2026. That is total sales, not income per family.
Q4. Which forest produce items get MSP?
The government has notified MSP for 87 Minor Forest Produce items, including honey, tendu leaves, mahua, tamarind, lac, bamboo and medicinal herbs. TRIFED buys at the notified price.
Q5. Are there Van Dhan Kendras in Haryana?
That information has not been officially announced. The PIB release gives no Haryana-specific count; the scheme runs in 25 states and 3 Union Territories.
Next Action
Read the official PIB backgrounder on PMJVM, the scheme guidelines from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, or visit TRIFED’s website for authentic details on Van Dhan Kendras and MSP procurement.
