Indian Tribal News Service
New Delhi
A substantial number of women who have excelled in setting up successful business ventures in different sectors were among the 86 tribal entrepreneurs from southern Indian states to have been honoured by the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) and Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MTA) in association with TRICOR-Andhra Pradesh.
The award is a bid to promote entrepreneurship amongst the Scheduled Tribes community and encourage them. The ST entrepreneurs hail from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Odisha.
The event, held on Monday (November 22) in Visakhapatnam as a part of celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the 75thAnniversary of Indian Independence, marked the final day of the iconic week to commemorate “Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas” on November 15, the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
Speaking on the occasion, Anil Kumar Jha, Secretary, MTA, urged the government, public and private to come forward to support the enterprises set up by tribals. He also emphasized the potential of the traditional skills set of the tribals like healing practices, herbal medicines and natural remedies.
A small exhibition was also arranged wherein various products made by tribals were displayed.
The representatives of various industrial forums like ASSOCHAM, DICCI, CII also spoke about their role in fostering tribal entrepreneurs. Mentors from MTA’s Going Online As Leaders (GOAL) Program shed light on the scope of digital initiatives for development of STs.
P.A. Sobha, Managing Director, Girijan Co-operative Corporation (GCC) Ltd. talked about the various marketing initiatives taken for the business development of the STs. NSTFDC Board Members,. Yatinder Prasad, JS&FA, MTA, Deepika Kispotta, DGM, IDBI Bank and RavindraBabu, Managing Director, TRICOR-Andhra Pradesh were in attendance.
