Meghalaya Hosts National Summit To Empower Rural Communities Through Tribal Entrepreneurship
Meghalaya Hosts National Summit To Empower Rural Communities Through Tribal Entrepreneurship
In a major effort to support rural and tribal families, the Government of Meghalaya recently held the “Summit for Rural Empowerment” in Shillong. The event focused on strengthening tribal livelihoods through the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) by encouraging local entrepreneurship and use of natural resources.
Organized by the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) under the state’s Planning and Sustainable Development Department, the summit aimed to promote Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs)—centres that help Self-Help Group (SHG) members process and sell products made from forest and farm produce like wild honey, broom grass, bamboo, jackfruit, millets, and turmeric.
Empowering Villages Through Local Enterprise
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, who led the event, said the mission is not just a government scheme but a movement to build self-reliant communities. He highlighted how traditional knowledge and local skills can be turned into income through small enterprises.
Currently, 169 VDVKs are active in Meghalaya, each supporting around 300 SHG members with ₹15 lakh funding for equipment and raw material. These centres are helping thousands of rural families earn a better living by creating value-added products from locally available resources.
More Support on the Way
The government announced plans to set up over 250 VDVKs, aiming to benefit more than 75,000 people in rural areas. The goal is to build strong village-based businesses that can work all year round—not just during the harvest season.
Big Partnerships for Bigger Impact
To further strengthen the programme, the summit saw the signing of 12 agreements (MoUs) with top training and research institutions. These partnerships will help rural entrepreneurs improve product quality, packaging, branding, and business skills. Another seven agreements are in the pipeline.
Participation from Across India
VDVK teams from nine other Indian states joined the summit to share their experiences and learn from one another. Two new women-led enterprises in handloom and handicrafts were also welcomed into the PMJVM network, showing how the mission is expanding beyond forest products.
Boosting Sales Through National Platforms
A promotional teaser for “Tribes India”—a national retail platform by TRIFED—was also launched. This platform will help rural producers sell their goods to customers in big cities and across India, bringing better prices and recognition to village-made products.
Minister’s Message
Agriculture Minister Smt. Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh praised the mission for transforming villagers into entrepreneurs. She said, “This initiative gives our farmers and artisans the tools to earn steady income, build self-confidence, and create strong rural communities.”
PMJVM is part of a larger national mission, with over 3,950 Van Dhan Groups across India, supporting more than 11 lakh people. It also works closely with other government schemes like One District One Product (ODOP) and departments such as MSME, AYUSH, ICAR, and MoFPI.
Learning, Sharing, and Recognition
The summit also included interactive workshops on packaging, branding, sustainable sourcing, and selling in the market. These sessions allowed VDVK members to learn from experts and each other.
Certificates were given to 11 VDVKs from different states like West Bengal, Odisha, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and the North East, recognising their efforts and encouraging more cross-state cooperation.
