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Tribal Welfare Institutions and Schemes
6A. TRIFED
Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) was established in 1987 under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act. Headquarters: New Delhi. TRIFED's mandate is to provide marketing assistance and institutional support for tribal-produced goods including Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and tribal handicrafts.
Key initiatives:
- Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce through Minimum Support Price (MSP-MFP): Launched 2014; provides MSP for 87 forest produce items (extended from initial 49 in 2020). Implemented through State Implementation Agencies.
- Tribes India retail brand: TRIFED operates ~130 outlets nationally.
- RISA: Timeless Tribal brand (launched March 2026): Focus on tribal textiles — see Current Affairs section.
6B. Van Dhan Vikas Kendras
Launched 2018–19 under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) are village-level tribal enterprise clusters. Each VDVK comprises 15–20 self-help groups of ~300 tribals, aggregating and value-adding forest produce. Rajasthan had 88 VDVKs operational across tribal districts as of March 2025, covering approximately 26,400 tribal beneficiaries (Ministry of Tribal Affairs Annual Report 2024–25).
6C. National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
Established under Article 338A (inserted by the 89th Constitutional Amendment, 2003). The NCST consists of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, and 3 members. It:
- Investigates complaints of atrocities against tribals under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (amended 2015 and 2018)
- Monitors implementation of Fifth Schedule provisions
- Submits annual reports to the President
6D. Key Schemes Summary
| Scheme | Ministry | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) | Tribal Affairs | CBSE-affiliated residential schools in every ST-majority block |
| PM Janjati Vikas Mission (PMJVM) | Tribal Affairs | Umbrella mission for tribal welfare (2023 reorganization of earlier TSP) |
| PM Janjati Aadhivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) | Tribal Affairs | Launched Nov 2023; ₹24,000 crore for 75 PVTGs over 3 years |
| Forest Rights Act titles | Tribal/Forest | ~1.28 lakh titles in Rajasthan as of 2023–24 |
| Van Dhan Vikas Kendra | Tribal Affairs | Value-addition enterprise clusters; 88 in Rajasthan (2025) |
| MSP-MFP | Tribal Affairs | Minimum Support Price for 87 forest produce items |
Source: Ministry of Tribal Affairs Annual Report 2024–25; Rajasthan Tribal Area Development Department
6E. Tribal Problems
The PYQ record shows RPSC directly tests tribal problems (2016, 2021). Core problems:
Land alienation: Non-tribals acquired tribal land through debt bondage, fraudulent sales, and money-lending. Rajasthan's Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955 and Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 have provisions restricting transfer of tribal land to non-tribals, but enforcement gaps remain.
Displacement and forest rights denial: Tribal displacement for mining, dams, wildlife sanctuaries — the Sardar Sarovar Project affected some Rajasthan Bhils; more locally, the Sagwara dam (Dungarpur) and Mahi Bajaj Sagar project displaced Bhil communities in the 1970s–80s without adequate rehabilitation.
Education deficit: ST literacy 52.5% vs. state average 66.1% (2011); drop-out rates among ST girls particularly high at secondary level.
Health and malnutrition: Tribal districts — Banswara, Dungarpur, Baran — have higher stunting and wasting rates than state averages; IMR in tribal districts is 15–20% higher than state IMR.
Bonded labour: Still reported in remote areas, especially among Kathodi and Saharia communities, despite the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976.
Cultural marginalization: Commercial penetration of tribal areas, decline of traditional forest economy, and loss of indigenous knowledge systems are eroding distinctive tribal identities.