TRIFED - Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India

The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) was established in 1987, under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984. This body works for the social and economic development of the tribal people of the country. 

It is administered by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Questions based on its objectives, initiatives and background can be asked in the GS 1 and 3 paper of the upcoming IAS Exam. 

Latest context on TRIFED – 

The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) has launched “Sankalp Se Siddhi” – Village and Digital Connect Drive under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The aim of the drive is to activate the Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) in the villages.

TRIFED – Development of Tribes in India [UPSC Notes]:-Download PDF Here

In this article, we shall discuss the objectives of TRIFED, along with their functions, activities, and significance in the development of the tribal communities in India. 

About TRIFED

Given below are a few important details about the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED):

• It is a statutory body and was established in August 1987
• It has been registered as a National level Cooperative body by the Government of the country
• Focus is on institutionalising the trade of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) & Surplus Agricultural Produce (SAP) collected/ cultivated by them
• TRIFED helps tribal people manufacture products for national and international markets on a sustainable basis
• It also supports the formation of Self Help Groups and imparting training to them

UPSC Aspirants can also know about the Major Tribes in India, at the linked article. 

Objectives of TRIFED

Discussed below are the major aims and objectives of the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India:

• Maor part of the income of tribal people is dependent on the manufacturing and production of tribal products. The main objective of TRIFED is to promote marketing development for the tribal people
•  It performs the role of both, a market developer and a service provider
• They support the tribal people with tools and training which can help them boost their market and production
• TRIFED helps in discovering a systematic and scientific approach for their development
• The ultimate aim is to help the different tribes of the country grow socially and economically. These people are entirely dependent on their handicrafts for a sustainable livelihood

There are multiple other statutory bodies which have been set by the Government for the development of the country. Aspirants can learn more about them through the links given below:

TRIFED – A Brief Background

• India is the country with the second-largest tribal population in the world. Almost one hundred million people of the country are a part of the tribal population
• Tribal people form an integral part of the country and are known for their rich traditional and cultural heritage
• The two main regions of the tribal settlement are the country’s northeastern states bordering China and Burma, and the highlands and plains of its central and southern regions
• These people are believed to belong to the oldest ethnological sector of the population and are commonly known as ‘Adivasi’ (original inhabitant)
• Multiple initiatives have been taken by the Government of India over the years for the development of tribal people in the country, including the Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes Commission, and TRIFED

Candidates can also refer to the following related links:

Activities of TRIFED

Two major undertakings are done by the Government under TRIFED:

• Minor Forest Produce (MFP) Development
  • The non-wood forest products constructed by the tribal people are termed as Minor Forest Produce (MFP)
  • These include all non-timber, forest produce of plant origin, including bamboo, canes, fodder, leaves, gums, waxes, dyes, resins and many forms of food including nuts, wild fruits, honey, lac, and tussar
  • These products provide both subsistence and cash income for the people living near or in the forests
  • Basic products like food, medicine, shelter, etc. can be made out of the collected products and cash income can be generated by selling them
  • They are a major source of women empowerment. Based on multiple reports, it has been derived that the Minor Forest Products are mainly sold by women across the country
• Retail Marketing and Development
  • TRIFED aims to create a business market for the tribal people where they can sell their self-created products
  • Creating brands for selling tribal products is also done by this body
  • It has been undertaking to source various handicraft, handloom and natural & food products 
  • TRIFED has been marketing tribal products through its Retail Outlets located across the country and also through exhibitions
  • It has been successful in opening up 35 own showrooms and 8 consignment showrooms promoting tribal handicrafts

Also, read Tribals and Issue of Land Rights.

Other Initiatives by TRIFED

In line with the socio and economic development of the tribal population of the country, TRIFED has even been a part of a few other initiatives:

• Empanelment of Tribal Producer/Tribal Artisans 
  • Sourcing products through its empanelled tribal suppliers
  • These suppliers may be individual tribal artisans, tribal Self Help Groups, agencies or NGOs working for the development of tribal people
• Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY)
• Van Dhan Karyakram
  • This has been initiated by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs
  • To set 50,000 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVK) in the tribal areas across the country to provide livelihood and empowerment of the tribal people.
• Village and Digital Connect Initiative
  • To ensure that existing schemes and initiatives reach the tribals, TRIFED’s regional officials across the country have been visiting identified villages with a significant tribal population.
• Tech For Tribals
  
  • Tech For Tribals program aims to transform 5 crore, Tribal Entrepreneurs, by capacity building and imparting entrepreneurship skills to tribal forest produce gatherers enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY). The Van Dhan Vikas Yojana is an initiative of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIFED. It was launched to improve tribal incomes through the value addition of tribal products.
  • The program will ensure a higher success rate of the Tribal Entrepreneurs by enabling and empowering them to run their business with marketable products with quality certifications.
• Schemes for Ensuring Fair Prices to Tribals
  
  • Schemes such as Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) Through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Development of Value Chain for MFP provide MSP to gatherers of forest produces.
  • The schemes ensure the sustainability of the resource base by addressing the problems that tribals face such as perishable nature of the produce, lack of holding capacity, lack of marketing infrastructure, exploitation by middlemen, etc.
• TRIFOOD Scheme:
  • It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Food Processing Industry, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIFED and it promotes value addition to MFP.

Conclusively, the main objective of the body is to empower the Indian tribal population, help them provide a livelihood, and capacity building through sensitisation. 

TRIFED – Development of Tribes in India [UPSC Notes]:-Download PDF Here

Candidates can also check the detailed UPSC Syllabus for the Preliminary and the Mains phase of the examination, along with the comprehensive exam pattern, at the linked article. 

For any further exam updates, study material, notes or preparation tips, candidates can turn to BYJU’S for expert assistance.