SHILLONG, 28 July 2025: The Government of Meghalaya, through the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) under the Planning, Investment Promotion & Sustainable Development Department, hosted the Summit for Rural Empowerment: Leveraging Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) at the State Convention Centre in Shillong on Friday.
The summit, aimed at catalysing rural entrepreneurship and promoting sustainable livelihoods, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Shri Conrad K. Sangma. The event witnessed participation from over 130 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) from Meghalaya and 9 from other states, alongside rural leaders, officials, and representatives from Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Speaking at the summit, the Chief Minister said, “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.”
Empowering SHGs through Local Enterprise
Launched nationally by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the PMJVM initiative supports rural SHGs by promoting value addition and entrepreneurship rooted in traditional knowledge and forest-based resources. In Meghalaya, 169 VDVKs have been sanctioned so far, benefiting thousands of rural households engaged in processing and marketing products such as broom grass, bamboo, wild honey, turmeric, millets, and jackfruit.
Each Kendra, comprising around 300 SHG members, receives ₹15 lakh in financial assistance towards procurement, equipment, training, and working capital. The programme aims to transform these community-run units into viable rural enterprises.
Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Smt. Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh underlined the long-term vision of the initiative, noting, “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.”
Strategic Partnerships and New Market Access
A key highlight of the summit was the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 12 premier national institutions to extend technical training, R&D support, and capacity building to VDVKs across the state. Another seven MoUs are slated to be signed in the coming weeks.
These partnerships are expected to bridge gaps between grassroots production and national expertise, facilitating access to modern technologies, improved processing, and quality standards.
The summit also saw the induction of two new handicraft and handloom enterprises into the PMJVM ecosystem and the launch of a teaser campaign for Tribes India, the national retail platform operated by TRIFED, which will now serve as a key marketplace for VDVK products across India.
Expansion Plans and National Context
At the national level, TRIFED has mobilised 3,958 Van Dhan Groups encompassing over 55,000 SHGs and reaching nearly 11.83 lakh rural beneficiaries. The PMJVM aligns with flagship national programmes such as ‘One District One Product’, GI-tag promotion, and cross-ministerial linkages with MSME, AYUSH, ICAR, and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
Looking ahead, the Government of Meghalaya is considering the establishment of 250 additional VDVKs over the next few years, targeting nearly 75,000 rural beneficiaries and mobilising ₹37.5 crore in enterprise development funds.
During the event, certificates of participation were presented to 11 VDVKs from North Eastern states, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Odisha, and Jharkhand.
Workshops on Enterprise Development
The summit concluded with capacity-building workshops covering branding, packaging, sustainable sourcing, and market access. These sessions facilitated knowledge exchange among participating VDVKs and showcased best practices in rural enterprise development.
The event underscores the Meghalaya government’s long-term commitment to promoting community-led, forest-based enterprise models and creating resilient local economies.
