TRIFED to set up Atmanirbhar Corner in Indian missions & embassies around the world

New Delhi: With the focus on 'Vocal for Local' and building an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat,' TRIFED has been actively collaborating with several ministries such as the Ministry of Culture, Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Tourism and Office of the Prime Minister to take up the cause of promotion of GI-Tag products along with tribal products and transform them into a brand, symbolizing empowerment of tribal artisans.

In this context, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, TRIFED is going to set up an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Corner' in 100 Indian missions or embassies across the world. The corner will be an exclusive space to promote GI-tagged tribal art and craft products besides natural and organic products. According to TRIFED, the catalogues and brochures that showcase the richness and variety of tribal products have also been shared with the missions and embassies. Among the missions and embassies contacted, 42 of them, from countries such as Jamaica, Ireland, Turkey, Kenya, Mongolia, Israel, Finland, France, and Canada, have reverted. TRIFED is in the process of dispatching the first set of tribal products for the corner.

India has a rich legacy of indigenous products, be it handicrafts, handlooms, and other produce. As the national nodal agency TRIFED has been working extensively to help market and promote the indigenous products that tribal groups across the country have been producing for centuries. It is in this context that Geographical Indication or GI tagging has acquired even more importance.

In this context, Tribes constitute over 8 percent of our population however, they are among the disadvantaged sections of the society. An attitude that pervades among the mainstream is the erroneous belief that they have to be taught and helped. However, the truth is otherwise – the tribals have a lot of teaching urban India. Characterised by natural simplicity, their creations have a timeless appeal. The wide range of handicrafts which include hand-woven cotton, silk fabrics, wool, metal craft, terracotta, bead-work, all need to be preserved and promoted.

The Geographical Indication, which has been recognized by the World Trade Organization (WTO), is used to denote the geographical territory from where a product, be it agricultural produce, natural product, or manufactured, and also conveys an assurance of qualities or attributes that are unique to that specific geographic region.  India became a signatory to this convention, when, as a member of the WTO, it enacted the Geographical Indications (Registration and Protection Act), 1999, which came into effect from September 15, 2003.

With this promotional boost, it is hoped that these unique products get a larger market, and the larger vision of 'Vocal for Local, Buy Tribal' can be achieved which will be truly transformational in the areas of Sustainable Income generation and Employment of tribal people in the country.

TRIFED to celebrate its 34th Foundation Day on August 6

TRIFED was founded on August 6, 1987, and will celebrate its Foundation Day on August 6. It was founded to drive tribal development through marketing support for tribal products, both, handicrafts and Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP). TRIFED will celebrate this day in a special manner, with due publicity, to raise awareness among one and all regarding the issues related to trade in tribal areas, and the need to ensure a fair deal for the tribes in the commerce of their products. The proposed event shall also recognize the achievements and contributions that the tribes and people working for them have made in this regard.

The event will feature a presentation on TRIFED's journey, announcement of Van Dhan Awards, interaction of tribal beneficiaries with the Minister for Tribal Affairs through video conferencing and addresses by Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda and Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Renuka Singh.

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