https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Who Says Tribes Don’t Want Money?

Connecting the tribes to mainstream is not enough. They need an opportunity to earn more, even become entrepreneurs and set up their own enterprises. It’s with this vision that the IAS officer Pravir Krishna is steering TRIFED (Tribal Co-operative Marketing Federation of India).
Indian Masterminds Stories

Any discussion about empowerment of tribal people revolves mainly around bringing them to the mainstream and creating livelihood opportunity for them. The livelihood can be giving them daily wage jobs under MANREGA or other schemes. However, that shouldn’t be the only solutions.

The 1987 batch IAS officer Mr Pravir Krishna dreams of establishing thousands of crore worth market for tribal product, pushing them to become entrepreneur and even start their own enterprises. As the Managing Director of TRIFED (Tribal Co-operative Marketing Federation of India), he is moving toward making his vision come true by introducing various programs and tools for marketing of Tribal products.

In conversation with Indian Masterminds, he spoke about his plans and experiences in working for the betterment of various tribes in India.

Mr. Krishna with his team

The massive success of ‘Imli Andolan’

Being an officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, Mr. Krishna has served in many tribal districts of MP and Chhattisgarh. His works towards their empowerment has been remarkable. Highlighting his tenure in Bastar and Ambikapur as one of the best stints in his administrative career, he said, ‘`I was posted in Ambikapur from 94-97 and then in Bastar from 97-2001. Both the districts were massive in terms of land. At the time Ambikapur had 28 blocks and Bastar 32. It was not an easy job of administration’’.

Mr Krishna, who always focused on multiplying the income of tribes, introduced various scheme during his terms there.

Mr. Krishna in the ongoing adivasi matotsav

The ‘Imli Andolan’ during his tenure in Bastar was a massive success. A team of some 300 people team was working day and night to make it a success. Under this, 2400 self-help groups were created and 10,000 tribals were involved to procure forest products. Since MSP system were not very popular at the time so, Mr. Krishn introduced out a local system. They engaged young boys to procure forest products and sell it in the mandi & 280 bazars supported by TRIFED and govt. of India.

The impact of this program was so big that the rate of imli (tamarind) went from 50 paise/ kg to Rs. 650/kg! Around 50,000 crore worth of production was achieved, while augmenting the income of tribals to 10 times.

‘Although the scheme is not going now, but it was successful in turning the gatherers into traders. I feel very proud to be associated with it”, said Mr. Krishna.

The adivasi mahotsav will continue till February 15th

Creating 50,000 tribal start-ups

Mr. Krishna has around 12 years of experience in working for various tribes. He considers himself very lucky to be again given the opportunity to take his work ahead as MD, TRIFED. Recalling all the love and affection he has received while working with tribes he says, ‘I am half-tribal already!’.

In his new role, Mr Krishna is now focused on the `Van Dhan’ scheme, which again is designed to back and support tribal enterprises. Till now around 15 lakh artisans have been roped in under it. The aim is to procure and market Rs one thousand crore worth of tribal products including handicraft, handloom, food and agriculture.

Mr Krishna points out a popular misconception which holds that tribal people do not need money and are happy to live amidst nature with basic nature. “This is certainly not true. Like all of us, even they want to earn more, and we at TRIFED are working towards it. It’s the vision of our Prime Minister to start thousands of enterprises and not just focusing on connecting the tribes to mainstream.’’

He is working hard to uplift the tribals

And Mr Krishna too has a dream. It is to replicate in all the 27 states of India what the milk- product giant Amul did for Gujarat.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
_REI-EXPO-2025
Renewable Energy India Expo 2025 Set to Drive Innovation, Partnerships, and Sustainability in India’s Clean Energy Sector
IOB_Strengthens_Vigilance_Awareness_Campaign_
IOB Hosts Walkathon in Chennai to Promote Vigilance and Integrity for Vigilance Awareness Week 2025
BEML_and_VSCB_Member_Organisations_Organise_Walkathon_
BEML Walkathon in Bengaluru Promotes Integrity, Transparency During Vigilance Awareness Week 2025
Sariska Tiger ST-2303
Rising Tiger Presence in Lakhimpur’s Maheshpur Range Sparks Fear Among Villagers, Urging Stronger Forest Department Action
Coal-Production-resized
NCC Ltd Secures ₹6,828.94 Crore Contract with Central Coalfields for Major Coal Extraction Project in Jharkhand
Indore police arrest
MP Administration Shows Swift Action: Man Who Molested Australian Women Cricketers Arrested Within Hours in Indore, CM Yadav Orders Strict Action
ONGC_resized
PESB Calls for Applications for Director (Finance) Position at ONGC; Vacancy to Open on May 1, 2026
IAF MRFA project
India and Brazil Set to Finalize Landmark Defence Barter Deal: Tejas Fighters and Prachand Helicopters for C-390 Aircraft
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
Everybody Needs To Know What Is Transpiring Behind Closed Doors Of Courts
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
_REI-EXPO-2025
Renewable Energy India Expo 2025 Set to Drive Innovation, Partnerships, and Sustainability in India’s Clean Energy Sector
IOB_Strengthens_Vigilance_Awareness_Campaign_
IOB Hosts Walkathon in Chennai to Promote Vigilance and Integrity for Vigilance Awareness Week 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT