Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : TRIFED under Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been exploring convergences and partnerships with like-minded organisations to create synergies together with the main aim of furthering tribal empowerment and improving their livelihoods. In this regard TRIFED has started tying up with government departments and other like-minded organisations. One of the departments with whom TRIFED has aligned with is Ministry of Food Processing (MoFPI).
MoFPI is implementing the Prime Minister Formalisation of Micro Food Pocessing Enterprises (PM-FME) Scheme, which is a landmark initiative under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan to support micro-level food entreprenuers, FPOs, SHGs, and co-operatives. An important component of this scheme is the tribal sub-plan.
A communique to define the Convergence mechanism in implementation of this scheme was signed by Deepak Khandekar, Secretary Minister of Tribal Affairs, and Pushpa Subrahmanyam, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing ,in the presence of Arjun Munda, Minister of Tribal Affairs, and Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Agriculture and Food Processing, Thawar Chand Gehlot, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Rameswa rTeli, MoS, MoFPI, and Pravir Krishna, Managing Director, TRIFED on December 18, 2020.
An MOU was also signed between TRIFED and MoFPI to detail the key areas of collaboration. It has been agreed that TRIFED, as the nodal agency working for tribal upliftment, would develop a new range of tribal food products, TriFood, according to a PIB release.
With the necessary funding under the PM-FME Scheme of MoFPI, the TriFood range of tribal food products would be developed, branded, and packaged by TRIFED. It has also been agreed that the SHGs working under the Van Dhan Yojana would be provided support under the PM-FME Scheme including for handholding, training, capital investment, and working capital.
TRIFED will identify the eligible SHGs and their members and “Van Dhan Yojana” groups and their members engaged in food products and create a list with necessary details on their level of operations, type of product, marketing channels, means of production, production facilities, training, etc. and share them with State Governments and MoFPI.
As a part of capacity building,it has been decided that MoFPI under PMFME scheme would also provide necessary funds to TRIFED to undertake training, capacity building of tribals engaged in food processing. In addition, funds would be provided to TRIFED for product development and improved packaging for tribal food products.
TRIFED will also provide handholding support to Tribal SHGs and Van Dhan SHG groups and their members in preparation of DPRs, application process, getting necessary technical training, etc. to enable them benefit from various provisions under PMFME scheme including for capital investment.