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Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India Reports 136 Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India Reports 136

Empowering Tribal Communities Keonjhar Gears Up for a Dynamic

…Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY) Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

...DMF Udyami
For tribal communities, forests are more than a source of livelihood. They are an integral
part of their daily lives. However, when the products of the forests are sold unprocessed,
much of their value is often lost. Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY), is a scheme of EDII, in collaboration with District Skill Development-cum-Employment Office (DSDEO),
the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India focused on improving the livelihood of Keonjhar and with the funding support of District Mineral Foundation (DMF), Keonjhar has
tribal communities in India through value additions in Minor Forest-based Products initiated Project DMF Udyami. This initiative is dedicated to building a robust
(MFPs), thus enhancing the income of tribal communities. To achieve the mandate, the entrepreneurial ecosystem by empowering aspiring entrepreneurs through training and
scheme entails providing skill training and capacity building through various Van Dhan mentorship support.
Vikas Kendras (VDVKs).
The last two months have seen significant milestones with 8 new enterprises successfully
established under the project. DMF Udyami-trained entrepreneurs also participated in
several exhibitions during the last two months, including Subhadra Shakti, Swadeshi Mela
2026 and Gonasika Mela 2026. These platforms provided valuable market exposure,
promoted products to wider audience and brought forth networking opportunities for the
participants.

Under the project the capacity building programmes that were conducted, equipped
participants with necessary skills and knowledge to start and scale their businesses. In the
last two months, two three-day Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (EDPs) were
successfully conducted, which provided insights on business management to 154 new and
existing entrepreneurs. Furthermore, 6 Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes (EAPs),
reached out to 305 youth and women, spreading awareness about entrepreneurship and
educating them on how government schemes can act as a catalyst for their growth.

EDII is working as the training and capacity building partner for 130 VDVKs in Meghalaya. In
the last two months, EDII conducted 18 MFP Value Addition Trainings for 30 VDVKs,
imparted more than 270 beneficiaries. The training programmes focused on trades such as
mushroom cultivation, food processing, bamboo jewellery, bead jewellery and soap
making. To help the participants enhance the product packaging and making their Mr. Sachikant Mallick, Senior
products - market ready, sessions on branding and packaging were also covered in Project Officer, Eastern Region
trainings. Office during a meeting with
Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Hon'ble
Chief Minister of Odisha to discuss
The programmes are helping tribal communities transform their traditional practice of just opportunities for promoting
raw materials collection into making value added products through processing and entrepreneurship in Odisha.
enterprise development.

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