Govt scales up flagship tribal scheme Van Dhan, increases MSP for 50 minor forest produces

Union minister Jual Oram on Thursday said tribal forest produce gatherers will get minimum support price for 50 items under a new scheme.

Under the "Scheme of Minimum Support Price and Value Addition", the MSP for 50 items will be hiked by 30 to 40 per cent. It will benefit 5.5 crore tribals who depend on forest produce for livelihood, he said.

Oram also said the government's flagship Van Dhan scheme for increasing incomes of tribal population is ready to be extended to all tribal districts in phases.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the scheme in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on April 14 last year.

"The tribals presently get only 20 to 30 per cent of the value chain of the minor forest produces. This situation will change with the scaling up of the Van Dhan scheme that aims to take this share to 70 to 80 per cent," he said.

The ministry will also set up around 6,000 Van Dan Vikas Kendras, each comprising 300 tribal gatherers, in the country. It is expected to provide ...