What this scheme offers
Rather than gatherers selling raw Minor Forest Produce (honey, herbs, tree-borne oilseeds, flowers, bark, leaves and spices) immediately after collection, Van Dhan organises them into tribal-owned Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) — clusters of Self-Help Groups, roughly 300 members per Kendra — that collectively process produce into higher-value goods: food products, spices, herbal items, pickles, powders and jams. Each Kendra receives processing equipment (decorticators, dryers, graders and similar tools), skill training, and support accessing markets, while TRIFED guarantees a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the underlying produce so gatherers aren't left at the mercy of local traders. As of mid-2026, over 4,000 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras have been sanctioned, linking more than 12 lakh tribal members and generating roughly ₹168 crore in reported sales.
Who is eligible
- Members of a Scheduled Tribe engaged in gathering Minor Forest Produce, or tribal artisans working with forest-based raw materials.
- Must reside in or near a predominantly tribal, forested district where a Van Dhan Vikas Kendra is being set up.
- Joins as part of a Van Dhan Self-Help Group (up to 20–30 gatherers per SHG), not as an individual applicant.
Documents required
- ST certificate / tribal identity proof
- Aadhaar card
- Bank account details
- Proof of residence in the relevant forested district
How to join
- Contact your local Tribal Welfare Department office or District Collector's office to find out whether a Van Dhan Vikas Kendra is active or planned in your area.
- Join or help form a Van Dhan Self-Help Group with other tribal gatherers in your community — SHGs are the basic membership unit, not individuals.
- Your SHG registers with the State Nodal Agency for Minor Forest Produce, which coordinates with TRIFED at the national level.
- Once your Kendra is operational, members receive processing equipment, skill training in value addition, and access to sell produce at the guaranteed Minimum Support Price.
- TRIFED also supports market linkage — including through its Tribes India retail and online platforms — for finished products from your Kendra.