The Authorities of Meghalaya, via the Meghalaya Basin Administration Company (MBMA) underneath the Planning, Funding Promotion & Sustainable Improvement Division hosted the “Summit for Rural Empowerment: Leveraging Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM)” on Friday, July 25, 2025, on the State Conference Centre, Shillong.
The occasion was attended by Conrad Ok. Sangma Chief Minister of Meghalaya and Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.
The summit marks one other step in Meghalaya's journey in the direction of inclusive rural improvement and empowerment. PMJVM, spearheaded nationally by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, goals to advertise community-led entrepreneurship rooted in native sources, conventional data, and cultural identification, whereas linking communities with trendy markets and infrastructure.
The Chief Minister famous, “PMJVM is greater than a scheme. It's a motion that promotes community-led innovation and long-term resilience for our forest and rural communities.”
The core PMJVM are Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, the agricultural community-run centres that help worth addition, processing, packaging, and advertising of forest, agriculture, horticulture, handicraft and handloom merchandise. Every VDVK brings collectively roughly 300 members from rural Self-Assist Teams (SHGs) and receives Rs 15 lakhs in monetary help for procurement, tools, coaching, and dealing capital.
As of July 2025, 169 VDVKs have been sanctioned in Meghalaya, instantly benefitting 1000's of rural households throughout the state. These Kendras are engaged in processing a variety of domestically obtainable produce akin to broom grass, bamboo, wild honey, turmeric, pineapple, jackfruit, millets, and extra, translating conventional expertise into viable rural enterprises.One of many summit's key milestones was the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with 12 establishments throughout India to offer technical coaching, R&D help, and capacity-building for VDVKs. Further 7 MoUs will likely be signed within the coming weeks. These institutional partnerships are anticipated to bridge the hole between grassroots manufacturing and national-level experience, thereby unlocking entry to new applied sciences, improved processing strategies, and high quality requirements.The occasion additionally witnessed the launch of a promotional teaser for “Tribes India”, the nationwide retail platform operated by TRIFED underneath the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. This platform will allow VDVKs to showcase and promote their merchandise in main markets throughout India.
The Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Authorities of Meghalaya, highlighted the mission's position in constructing a resilient and diversified rural economic system. She mentioned, “This mission empowers our farmers, forest gatherers, and artisans to turn out to be producers and entrepreneurs. It lays the inspiration for year-round revenue, worth addition, and self-reliant communities.”
Nationally, TRIFED has mobilized 3,958 Van Dhan Teams, comprising over 55,000 SHGs, and has reached 11.83 lakh rural beneficiaries. PMJVM can be aligned with key nationwide priorities together with “One District One Product,” GI-tag promotion, and cross-ministerial convergence with MSME, AYUSH, ICAR, and MoFPI.
Trying forward, the Authorities of Meghalaya is exploring the potential for establishing over 250 extra VDVKs within the coming years, with the potential to learn round 75,000 beneficiaries and mobilize an estimated Rs 37.5 crore to help community-run worth addition and enterprise.
