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New Delhi : Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda e-inaugurated via a video conference a ‘Tribes India Showroom’ in Indian Globe Chambers of LIC Western Zonal Office, Fort, Mumbai, on August 21, 2020. The inaugural event was attended by Secretary, MoTA, Deepak Khandekar, Chairman, TRIFED, R C Meena, and MD, TRIFED, Pravin Krishna. Renowned designer Ruma Devi and cinestar Pooja Batra also participated in the virtual inauguration.
Munda, in his address on the occasion, said, “We are firmly standing behind 50 lakh tribal artisans and forest gatherers in their hour of need, to sustain their income, employment and livelihoods.” He said that taking the Prime Minister’s message forward to “Be Vocal for Local” and to promote the livelihood of the tribal people, TRIFED, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has initiated the path-breaking initiatives that have a wide-ranging impact.
In a bid to boost sales and enhance tribal income in these challenging times, Tribes India on Wheels, mobile vans stacked fully with Van Dhan natural produce, immunity boosters and other tribal products, has now been launched. They will take these products directly to the customer’s doorstep in 150 cities across the country, Munda said, according to a PIB release.
Munda also expressed his happiness that tribal arts and character is being displayed attractively in this flagship store in the tinsel town and the financial capital, Mumbai . Lauding the tireless efforts of the team of TRIFED warriors, he hoped that the handiwork of these artisans and communities will now get a bigger market. He said that in a solid push to the existing infrastructure, two production centres for Minor Forest Produce processing as a part of the TRIFOOD project, in association with MoFPI and NSTFDC, are being set-up in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, and Raigad, Maharashtra.
Secretary, MoTA, Deepak Khandekar, congratulated the entire team of TRIFED on their diligent efforts during the times of pandemic and reiterated the Ministry’s focus on “Be Vocal for Local.”
Ruma Devi, noted designer and Goodwill Ambassador of Tribes India, also appreciated TRIFED’s work even during the lockdown which has helped the tribal artisans and offered her unstinted cooperation and support.