The government has proposed to set up 3000 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras involving 30,000 SHGs.

The Van Dhan Scheme is an initiative of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIFED.  It was launched on 14th April, 2018 and seeks to improve tribal incomes through value addition of tribal products.

• It aims at targeting livelihood generation for tribals by harnessing non-timber minor forest produces (MFP), the true wealth of forest (i.e. Van Dhan).
• The features of the scheme includes:
• 10 SHGs of 30 tribal gathers to be constituted. They to be trained and provided with working capital.
• SHGs will makret their products within and across states.
• To form clusters to aggregate their stock and link with facility of primary processing in Van Dhan Vikas Kendras.
• It will also involve big corporations under PPP model. 

The Van Dhan Vikas Kendras will be important milestone in economic development of tribals involved in collection of MFPs by helping them in optimum utilization of natural resources and provide sustainable MFP-based livelihood in Minor Forest Produce rich districts.