With less than 59% literacy among the tribal communities as per the 2011 Census, the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) is focussing on improving their education and health aspects, said TRIFED Chairman and Managing Director Ganta Ramesh Kumar here on Tuesday.
Speaking on the final day of his three-day visit to Chittoor district, Mr. Kumar said the schemes introduced under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs would target promoting the marketing of forest produce, skill development and improving the livelihood of the tribal community. “Schemes focussing on self-employment would encourage individuals as well as groups to develop their talents/inclination such as agriculture, horticulture, fisheries etc. On June 25, we organised a training programme in making incense sticks - 'Amma Padmavati Agarbatthi', for nearly 30 people hailing from tribal communities,” he said.
He said they would set up an incense stick manufacturing unit at Jeevakona area at a cost of ₹ 9.65 lakh. This facility, he said, would offer employment to about 30 members. “We will also be organising a training camp elucidating on marketing of tamarind for nearly 300 people in western mandals of Chittoor district. They will be taught how to select, package and preserve the produce and further enable them for sale,” he said.
Citing Tamil Nadu's example in manufacturing incense sticks, he called for achieving good results here and said their future programmes would be on developing skills of tribal youth in a wide range of sectors.
Mr. Kumar said they had requested TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal for setting up a centre in Tirumala, for selling products to the pilgrims.
