Shyamhari Chakra
Commemorating Gandhi Jayanti, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched its “Tribes India e-marketplace” – billed as India’s largest handicraft and organic products marketplace – on Friday.
“It is a path breaking initiative to transform tribal lives and livelihoods”, stated Arjun Munda, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, in his address during the virtual launching ceremony in New Delhi.
The main objective of the initiative is socio-economic development of tribal people by way of e-marketing in view of the drastic changes in traditional marketing system that the ongoing global pandemic has caused, the Ministry has explained.
Apart from showcasing the produce and handicrafts of tribal enterprises from across the country and help market their products directly, the initiative has been a major leap towards the digitisation of tribal commerce, the officials have elaborated.
The occasion further included inauguration of Tribes India’s 123rd and 124th outlets in Rishikesh and Kolkata respectively.
Inclusion of several new tribal product ranges from the states of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh in TRIFED’s e-marketing scheme and partnership of TRIFED and Tribes India with Amazon in their seller-flex program were the other major components of the launching ceremony.
The ceremony witnessed launch of Pakur Honey, the cent per cent natural honey which is gathered by the vulnerable Pahadiya tribe from Pakur in Jharkhand state.
TRIFED aims to on board five lakh tribal producers for sourcing of various handicraft, handloom, natural food products across the country through this e-Marketplace. It offers the customers the best of tribal produces while connecting tribal forest dwellers and artisans with national and international market, the officials maintained.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs is focussing on skill development of tribal artisans to make them more skilled apart from providing them market for their tribal products. The thrust has been on marketing the tribal products gathered and produced by small and marginal tribal groups, the Ministry has mentioned.
