YouthNet Van Dhan Vikas Kendra Cluster (VDVKC) was conferred with three state van dhan awards during the first “Van Dhan Annual Awards, 2020-21”.
A press release by YouthNet informed that the organisation was awarded “Scale of diversified operations at VDVKC”, “maximum range of value-added items produced & marketed”, “best innovation and most creative marketing idea” awards on August 6 during the celebration of 34th foundation day of TRIFED, Ministry of Tribal Affairs by the regional manager NE, TRIFED through a webinar.
YouthNet in association with Nagaland State Co-operative Marketing & Consumers Federation Ltd. (MARCOFED) and department of Forest, Environment & Climate Change, government of Nagaland launched Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK) in Tuophema Botsa Blocks under Kohima district.
Under this scheme, tribal community owned MFP-centric multi-purpose Van Dhan Vikas Kendras was set up in Tuophema Botsa blocks where 15 SHGs/SAMUH comprising of 300 members were trained under the Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) & Development of Value Chain.
The scheme is implemented by YouthNet with Made in Nagaland Centre (MIN) Kohima as common facility centre for procurement and value addition to locally available MFPs and skill-based handicrafts.
VDVK is a component of the mechanism for marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Development of Value Chain for MFP scheme which is a Van Dhan tribal start-ups programme for value addition, branding and marketing of MFP by establishing VDVKs to provide employment for tribal populations and increase in their income.