(a) whether the Government proposed to constitute any Regulatory Authority at
the Central level for ensuring maximum participation of tribal people in forest
produce trade; and
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the steps taken by the Government to
ensure safeguarding of the interests of tribal people in this regard?
MINISTER OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI P.R. KYNDIAH)
(a) & (b) There is no such proposal under consideration in the Ministry. However, the
Ministry has been providing grants to State Tribal Development Cooperative
Corporations to enchance their efforts with regard to procurement of Minor
Forest Produce and other activities. Besides, the Tribal Cooperative Marketing
Development Federation Ltd., (TRIFED), an apex level Cooperative Society
functioning under this Ministry, as per their new byelaws, undertakes the
marketing development of tribal products.