25/07/2025
Planning, Investment Promotion & Sustainable Development Department, Government of Meghalaya & Meghalaya Basin Management Agency
Shillong, 25th July 2025: The Government of Meghalaya, through the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) under the Planning, Investment Promotion & Sustainable Development Department, successfully hosted the “Summit for Rural Empowerment: Leveraging Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM)” on Friday, July 25, 2025, at the State Convention Centre, Shillong.
The event was graced by Shri Conrad K. Sangma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya, as the Chief Guest, along with other dignitaries including the Smt. Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, rural leaders, officials, and participants from 130 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) from across the state.
Advancing Community-Led Rural Enterprise:
The summit marks another step in Meghalaya’s journey towards inclusive rural development and empowerment. PMJVM, spearheaded nationally by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, aims to promote community-led entrepreneurship rooted in local resources, traditional knowledge, and cultural identity, while linking communities with modern markets and infrastructure.
Addressing the gathering, the Hon’ble Chief Minister noted, “PMJVM is more than a scheme. It is a movement that promotes community-led innovation and long-term resilience for our forest and rural communities.”
At the heart of PMJVM are Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, the rural community-run centres that support value addition, processing, packaging, and marketing of forest, agriculture, horticulture, handicraft and handloom products. Each VDVK brings together approximately 300 members from rural Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and receives ₹15 lakhs in financial support for procurement, equipment, training, and working capital.
As of July 2025, 169 VDVKs have been sanctioned in Meghalaya, directly benefitting thousands of rural families across the state. These Kendras are engaged in processing a wide range of locally available produce such as broom grass, bamboo, wild honey, turmeric, pineapple, jackfruit, millets, and more, translating traditional skills into viable rural enterprises.
MoUs Signed with 12 Premier Institutions:
One of the summit’s key milestones was the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with 12 reputed institutions across India to provide technical training, R&D support, and capacity-building for VDVKs. Additional 7 MoUs will be signed in the coming weeks. These institutional partnerships are expected to bridge the gap between grassroots production and national-level expertise, thereby unlocking access to new technologies, improved processing techniques, and quality standards.
Additionally, the summit welcomed 130 VDVKs from Meghalaya and 9 from other states, creating a powerful platform for exchange, learning, and collaboration. Two new enterprises based on handicrafts and handlooms were also inducted into the PMJVM ecosystem.
The event also witnessed the launch of a promotional teaser for “Tribes India”, the national retail platform operated by TRIFED under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. This platform will enable VDVKs to showcase and sell their products in major markets across India.
Strengthening Local Economies and Year-Round Livelihoods:
Speaking at the event, the Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, highlighted the mission’s role in building a resilient and diversified rural economy. She said, “This mission empowers our farmers, forest gatherers, and artisans to become producers and entrepreneurs. It lays the foundation for year-round income, value addition, and self-reliant communities.”
Nationally, TRIFED has mobilized 3,958 Van Dhan Groups, comprising over 55,000 SHGs, and has reached 11.83 lakh rural beneficiaries. PMJVM is also aligned with key national priorities including “One District One Product,” GI-tag promotion, and cross-ministerial convergence with MSME, AYUSH, ICAR, and MoFPI.
Looking ahead, the Government of Meghalaya is exploring the possibility of setting up over 250 additional VDVKs in the coming years, with the potential to benefit around 75,000 beneficiaries and mobilize an estimated ₹37.5 crore to support community-run value addition and enterprise. Notably, Certificate of participation for 11 VDVKs from states of North East, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Odisha, Jharkhand were also distributed.
Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing:
The event concluded with hands-on workshops for participating VDVKs, focused on branding, packaging, sustainable sourcing, and market access. These sessions encouraged peer learning and brought together best practices in rural enterprise, further strengthening the ecosystem for rural entrepreneurship in Meghalaya.
This landmark event reinforces the Government’s long-term commitment to making Meghalaya a national leader in forest-based and community-led enterprise development.
