Question : OPENING OF TRIFED OFFICES

(a) whether Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation has achieved the objective of getting remunerative price for the agricultural produces to Tribals;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to shift the Zonal and Regional Offices to places close to tribal inhabited areas or districts;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the progress made in opening up new offices in Siliguri and Itanagar;

(e) whether the Government proposes to open TRIFED offices in the Tribal dominated States of Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Nagaland; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS ( SHRI P.R. KYNDIAH)

(a)&(b) In terms of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED) is a multi-State cooperative society. TRIFED amended its bye-Laws in April, 2003 to be in tune with the requirement of the said Act. As per the amended bye-Laws, the main object of TRIFED`s role and function is to act as a service provider and facilitator for marketing development of tribal products. Consequently TRIFED is no more involved in direct procurement of agricultural produce or Minor Forest Produce (MFP) from the tribal people.

(c) to(f) There are no such proposals under consideration at present.