Discover how the PM-JANMAN initiative and Keshodar VDVK in Chhattisgarh are empowering PVTG communities to build a ₹1.84 crore forest produce enterprise.

GARIABAND: For the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) residing in the forest belts of Chhattisgarh, the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) is scripting a quiet economic revolution. The Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK) in Keshodar, Gariaband district, has emerged as a successful model of rural enterprise, proving that traditional forest knowledge, when backed by modern market access, can entirely transform the financial landscape of indigenous communities.

Under the strategic guidance of Forest and Climate Change Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF – HoFF) Shri Arun Kumar Pandey, the center has become a powerful engine for women’s self-reliance. Driven by targeted government policies and grassroots interventions by the state forest department, the Keshodar initiative is generating year-round employment, ensuring respectable incomes, and opening new entrepreneurial avenues for local communities.

Women Take Charge of Enterprise

The Keshodar VDVK is operated by the ‘Bhuteshwar Nath Hill Self-Help Group’ (SHG). Serving as an umbrella organization, it integrates 8 other SHGs, directly impacting 87 PVTG beneficiaries.

The defining feature of this initiative is its women-led leadership. Encouraged by the forest department, these women have transitioned from traditional forest produce gatherers to skilled rural entrepreneurs. With institutional support from TRIFED and the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce (CGMFP) Federation, the beneficiaries have been trained to operate modern processing machinery.

Today, they are manufacturing premium Ayurvedic and herbal products under the popular ‘Chhattisgarh Herbs’ brand. Their flagship products, including ‘Mahavishgarbh Oil’ and ‘Bhringraj Oil,’ are witnessing massive market demand, securing a strong commercial identity for the indigenous workforce.

Crores in Turnover, Steady Profits

The financial metrics underscore the ground-level impact of the initiative. During the 2023-24 financial year, the Keshodar VDVK recorded an impressive turnover of approximately ₹1.84 crore, securing a net profit of nearly ₹15 lakh. Beyond the balance sheet, this financial success reflects a significant boost in the women’s confidence and a visible upgrade in their overall standard of living.

Setting a National Benchmark

Propelled by the vision of Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap and PCCF (HoFF) Shri Arun Kumar Pandey, the ‘Keshodar Model’ demonstrates that tribal skills can be converted into a major economic force when provided with institutional backing, modern resources, and targeted training.

Developed under the PM-JANMAN framework, this operational structure is no longer just a success story for Gariaband district it is rapidly emerging as a benchmark for tribal empowerment, local governance, and inclusive growth across the country.