Page 29 - EDII Report-134

Building Capacities to Strengthen Unleashing Meghalaya’s Resource Potential

Entrepreneurship ...Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojna (PMVDY)

EDII is committed to fostering entrepreneurship and strengthening the ecosystem. The Meghalaya holds enormous potential for sustainable enterprise
ecosystem comprises key facilitators and resource persons, whose sensitization and development. Harnessing this strength, the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana
upskilling are important, so that their strategic insights in turn, become the pillars of (PMVDY) is enabling local communities to process, add value and market
entrepreneurship growth in a given region, and the country as a whole. In the past two forest-based produce effectively. The scheme, launched by the Ministry of
months, two Capacity Building Programmes were conducted, aimed at empowering the Tribal Affairs, Government of India focuses on building value chains for Minor
beneficiaries with vision and strategies for growth.
Forest Products (MFPs) and increasing the income of tribal communities by
providing them guidance and training. EDII has been entrusted as the training
Capacity Building Programme, supported by Maharashtra Centre for Entrepreneurship
Development (MCED) was organized during August 4 – 8, 2025 for 20 senior employees of and capacity building partner for 130 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) in
MCED aimed at skilling the participants in envisioning and strategically planning for Meghalaya.
formulating a five-year strategic vision of MCED. The programme had also curated
modules to ensure skill building of employees, through multiple exercises and simulation Under the Van Dhan Yojana, tribal communities are encouraged to form
exercises. Participants worked on a revival plan and an institutional roadmap to enhance clusters and undertake the processing of forest produce to increase their
organizational performance. value. These clusters are provided with necessary infrastructure, such as
tools, equipment and training in value addition and entrepreneurship. The
Another, Capacity Building Programme was conducted from 25th to 29th August, 2025, scheme also provides market linkages to the tribal communities for their
for the employees of Friends of Women’s World Banking (FWWB), India. 15 senior products through various channels.
employees of FWWB from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Meghalaya and Manipur attended the
programme. The training encouraged participants to explore innovative approaches in To strengthen the efficiency and sustainability of these 130 Van Dhan Vikas
entrepreneurship development, identify new avenues in training and design long-term Kendras Kendras, EDII initiated trainings on soft skills, namely - ‘Financial
strategic plans for expanding outreach. The sessions provided fresh perspectives, which Literacy and Bookkeeping’ and ‘Capacity Building for VDVK Management’ for
participants found highly enriching for advancing their work.
the VDVKs in the all districts of Meghalaya. The training was designed to
enhance capacity of the VDVK members on the financial and management
aspects of functioning a VDVK. Over the last two months, 33 trainings have
been conducted, benefitting more than 1400 participants.

Participants of Capacity Building Programme organized for the Employees of
Friends of Women’s World banking, India (FWWB).

Dr. Prakash Solanki, Associate Professor, EDII was the Programme Director for both Participants of the training on VDVK Management and Entrepreneurship Development
Capacity Building Programmes and expressed satisfaction over the encouraging Programme (EDP) conducted under the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK).
outcomes of the programmes .

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