Promotion of Tribal Products for North East Region (PTP-NER 2.0)

Syllabus: GS-2/Government Schemes and Initiatives

Context

  • The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd. (TRIFED) has launched phase 2 of the ‘Promotion of Tribal Products for North East Region’ (PTP-NER 2.0) scheme.

About the Scheme:

  • It is a Central Sector scheme and is launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
  • This scheme aims to enhance procurement, logistics and marketing of tribal products from the North East Region.
  • It will be implemented in eight states of North Eastern Region- Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim.
  • The scheme has been implemented in two phases:
    • In the First Phase of the scheme , 8 states and 38 districts were covered. Organisation of 64 Tribal Artisans Empanelment Melas (TAeM) were done by the teams of TRIFED and North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC). A variety of products were procured ranging from textiles, forest produce, bamboo items, jewelry, pottery, paintings, etc. 
    • In the Second Phase of the scheme, 29 districts will be covered by the teams of TRIFED and NEHHDC to reach out to tribal artisans and showcase their cultural heritage.

Significance of the Scheme

  • It will strengthen the job opportunities for tribal artisans by promoting their products.
  • It will improve tribal products’ global value chain and create sustainable livelihoods for tribal communities.
  • The scheme would uplift the socio-economic status of tribal artisans while preserving and promoting their rich traditional craftsmanship and cultural heritage.
Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd. (TRIFED)
– It is a national-level apex organization functioning under the administrative control of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. It acts as a facilitator and service provider for tribes to sell their product.
– It aims to empower tribal people with knowledge, tools, and a pool of information so that they can undertake their operations in a more systematic and scientific manner.
– Its objective is the socio-economic development of tribal people in the country by way of marketing development of the tribal products such as metal craft, tribal textiles, pottery, tribal paintings, and pottery on which the tribals depend heavily for a major portion of their income. 
North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC)
– It was incorporated in 1977 and aims to develop and promote the indigenous crafts of the region. It is under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Government of India.
Objectives: 
1. Providing financial, technical and other assistance to craftsmen, weavers, co-operatives and other establishments.
2. Establish, operate and promote Sales Centres, like emporia, show-rooms, publicity offices and exhibition cells for improving accessibility of the goods.
3. Organise production through co-operatives, artisans or its own production centres.
4. Promote and operate schemes for development of handicrafts, handlooms and allied products.
5. Establish production centers for those craft industries where the demand is growing.
6. Provide training for multiplying and upgrading traditional skills.

Source: PIB