MCDC (Maharashtra Cooperative Development Corporation Limited) Participation in Various Project for Tribal Community

Abstract

The world\'s largest tribal population, found in around 15% of India\'s land area, inhabits a variety of ecological and geoclimatic settings, from plains to hills & remote regions. In broadly, the STs inhabit two distinct parts of India: the northeastern part & central part. One hundred twenty-two states & territories have officially recognised 705 different ethnic groups as STs, according to the 2011 census. The history of tribal development administration is extensive. It started way back when India was still a colony. Due to shifts in both the Scheduled Areas & people who live there, the management of tribal development has changed throughout the years. For the betterment of India\'s indigenous & mainstream communities, the government has launched a number of programmes & strategies to improve people\'s skills and other areas of social welfare. Therefore, in its twelfth five-year plan, the Indian government made skill development a top priority. The National Policy on Skill Development was endorsed by the Indian government\'s cabinet to boost India\'s global competitiveness & facilitate Indians\' access to respectable employment opportunities overseas. But the government-sponsored skill development programmes are out of reach for the STs due to a number of factors. This research was focused of the aforementioned concerns about the nature and efficacy of various initiatives designed to help members of the tribal community acquire new skills. The development in the social and economic standing of the tribal community following the skill development has been analyzed to determine the impact of the skill development program. The Bhandra district in Maharashtra was selected as the study region.

Introduction

I. INTRODUCTION

The goals of skill development programmes for indigenous communities include improving their economic standing, increasing their employability, & encouraging them to become more self-sufficient. These programs cover a wide range of skills and training areas, tailored to the specific needs and aspirations of each community. India has the biggest population of persons who consider themselves to be tribal.

The tribal people are the offspring of the natural world, and their way of life is dictated by the environment. Because of its many ecosystems, India is home to many distinct tribal groups. About 15% of the country is occupied by the country's large tribal population. Although the majority of India's tribal population lives in the northeast and central regions, you can find members of these communities in every state & union territory. There were 84.51 million individuals residing in the nation in 2001, constituting 8.14% of the total population. The Indian Constitution, specifically Article 342, states that 697 separate tribal groups have been officially recognised by the federal government; some of these communities have even been officially recognised in multiple states. The states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Jharkhand, and Gujarat are home to more than half of India's Scheduled Tribe population, while the states of Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Pondicherry, and Chandigarh have not classified any communities as Scheduled Tribes.

A. Agri-business and Rural Transformation

In accordance with the Companies Act, 1956, the Maharashtra Cooperative Development Corporation Limited was officially established in 2000 by the State Government of Maharashtra. It was founded & headquartered in the Indian city of Pune. They chose to establish as a loan company, making them a non-bank financial institution. It is completely owned by GOM with Authorised Share capital of Rs. 100 Cr. The present value of MCDC's corpus fund is Rs. 9.45 Cr. The corporation works for the development Co-Operatives, Farmer Producer Organization (FPOs) & Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

B. State of Maharashtra’s Agri-business and Rural Transformation Program Project (SMART)

Leading partner in the newly sanctioned govt. project called SMART. For project implementation, World Bank is making arrangement of outlay of Rs.700 Cr. for MCDC. MCDC will have  separate project implementation unit through which activities like a) Productive partnerships b) cluster development plans c) Market access plans d) Innovative partnerships e) Enterprises development & technical support to business activities f) Access to finance g) capacity building activities etc. of the PACs/ Cooperatives will be identified under the project.

C. Training

Under Maharashtra Cooperative Development Corporation Limited, Pune Training Division, in term to double the income of farmers by the year 2022, it is essential to provide a sustainable market for the agricultural commodities produced, increase the value of agricultural commodities, and grow the agro-processing industry. To this end, a five-day residential training program is being successfully organized by the Co-operative Development Corporation for the members / individual farmers of various executive bodies / farmer production companies / women self-help groups in the state.

1. Awards and Recognitions to Training Division MCDC

a. Under NABARD POPI project nominated as a recognised training institute

b. Government of India Agriculture Skill Council of India recognised as a Training Partner Institute

c. Selected as a NABARD-POPI project Resource Support Agency (RSA)

d. Nominated to undertake different Government Trainings

2. Objectives of Training Programmes

a. To increase the value of agricultural produce and the source of income of the farmers.

b. Creating opportunities for entrepreneurship and skills development in rural areas.

c. Financial strengthening of co-operative societies, farmer producing companies, self-help groups and job creation.

d. To guide co-operative processing industries in financing in the form of loans and investments.

e. To provide guidance on increasing exports of agricultural commodities.

3. Training Duration

Residential Training: 3 to 5 days

Online Webinar: 1 to 3 days

Training Batch Size:  25 to 30 Participants/Batch

D. Supply of Agricultural Input Management Activities

Through Maharashtra Co-operative Development Corporation, Pune, it has been definite to provide agricultural inputs and services to various executive service societies / farmer production companies in rural areas. The Corporation has received the State Wholesale Fertilizer Sales License (LCFD 100169) from the Commissionerate of Agriculture, State of Maharashtra. The service of agricultural inputs provided to the farmer members through various executive service societies / farmer producer companies through the corporation will be provided in cash for the first year 2020-2021 on a no profit no loss basis.

E. Earth mover supply scheme or Jalsamruddhiyojana

Implemented successfully scheme called Earth mover supply scheme. Now this scheme is in the process of upgradation with innovative business models for PACS & renamed to Jalsamruddhiyojana. This scheme has funds of Rs.125Cr.for implementation with physical Target of 1000.

F. Coop Shop

On October 4, 2018, the Coop Shop Scheme was introduced in the Indian state of Maharashtra as part of the Atal Mahapan Vikas Abhiyan. There are many different kinds of co-operative societies in rural parts of the state that supply things like agricultural commodities, dairy products, or processed products.

Buying or selling groups, VKK organizations, farmers, farmer producing companies, and women's self-help groups have been given permission by the government to create a system to supply urban co-operative housing society customers with clean, fresh, up-to-date agricultural commodities and products.

These cop shops are available to the public in urban & metropolitan cooperative housing societies. The goals encompass such areas as establishing a distribution system for agricultural goods, raising farmers' earnings, or improve the eminence of life for farmers. It is important that people living in urban areas have access to affordable, high-quality agricultural products.

G. Atal Arthsahay Scheme

This scheme is  born with an objective of strengthening cooperative societies, financially along with development of sustainable business models ,profitability ,market access of farming community who are  members &shareholders of cooperative societies. Grant received for this schemes is Rs.500 Cr for 5 years.

H. Nabard POPI

Maharashtra Co-operative Development Corporation has been promoted to set up 05 farmers producing companies in 05 districts on 02 January 2019 under POPI  Phase 01 under the Producer Organization Promoting Institutions (POPI) scheme under NABARD. The aim is to set up a total of 25 farmers producing companies on 12th July 2019 under the POPI  Phase 02. Farmers' productive societies may be an association, organization, co-operative society, association or even a firm established for the purpose of promoting farmer's interest. The main aim of the Farmers Manufacturers Company is to provide supportive services to the farmers or farmers to assist them in their production or post harvesting activities, while connecting small and small weed growers to the market. Farmers' productive societies or groups work to enable small and smallholder farmers to participate successfully in local, national and global supply chains. Cluster selection of farmer-produced companies, baseline surveys, capacity building, study board of directors, awareness programs, board of directors, executive officer training, government license acquisition, or business proposal development are all part of this project. There is a lot of work to do. POPI  Phase 01: - 05 All Farmer Producer Companies in the Farmer Manufacturers Establishment have been established. Affording to the deliverables set by NABARD, the work has been completed in six months and the claim amount has been received by the corporation. POPI  Phase 02: - 10 farmers producing companies have been set up in 25 farmers producers' establishments. And the rest of the company registration work is in progress. As per the goals established by NABARD, sixteen districts have finished their work for the first quarter, while the remaining districts are proceeding as planned. Outline for the future: - Proposals will be submitted for the Poppy Phase 03 through NABARD, under which the corporation can get the job of creating an estimated 50 farmers producing companies in the future.  Re

I. Mahafarm

In Maharashtra there are many Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACSs), Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), Community Managed Resource Centers (CMRCs), Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) which produces various types of agro products. But due to various reasons, including the cut-throat competition against the products of National and Multinational companies, their products could not be sustained in the market. MCDC launched a new label to handle the branding & marketing of agro-products and produce made by different co-ops. Therefore, MCDC has developed its own fast-moving consumer goods brand named "Maha Farms" to help strengthen all these cooperative societies under AtalMahapananVikasAbhiyan. Market distribution of PAC, FPC, SHG, CMRC, and CLF agricultural products under the "Mahafarm" label. As a result of input from various CBOs, MCDC has begun taking steps to expand the market for these items. One hundred and more agro-products have been identified by MCDC from PACS, FPC, & SHG across the state of Maharashtra. Out of these, 8 goods with 15 SKU having distinctive quality and distinct taste are to be branded & sold under MahaFarms.Organization in charge of coordinating the PanditDindayalUpadhyayPatsansthathevSanrakshanYojana. The primary motivation behind the development of this program was the need to provide protection for the deposits made by farmers and other depositors to Cooperative organizations. Under this plan, depositors can feel safe putting down more than Rs.57000 Cr.

J. Agri-Tourism Training

a. Economic development of agri-tourism center

b. Entrepreneurship and skills development in rural areas

c. To create employment opportunities in rural areas through agro-tourism

d. Financial strengthening of co-operative societies, farmer producing companies, self help groups and job creation.

e. To guide the agri-tourism and agri-supplement processing industries in financing in the form of loans and investments.

Conclusion

In terms of society, economy, & culture, tribal communities are on the margins. Developing the tribal community\'s skills is more important than ever before in the current situation. In order for indigenous communities to achieve economic independence, self-assurance, and a higher quality of life, it is crucial to invest in both education & skill development. The indigenous people of the area will be able to reclaim their dignity and live fulfilling lives if they have access to education and training. In addition to this, children of the tribe want to work in a skilled occupation where they may earn a good living income and have appropriate working circumstances. Analysing the impact of the skill development project on the socio-economic status of the tribal group was the second purpose of the study. Researchers have examined the impact of skill development programmes on the social & economic standing of tribal members following training. Tribal members\' employment status, job type, industry, hours worked per week, months worked, & savings habits before and after skill development training are used to determine their economic position.

References

[1] Palanithurai, G. (2014). Skill Development in Higher Learning Institutions: A Micro Analysis. Indian Journal of Industrial Relations, 49(3), 471-482. Retrieved March 14, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/24546991 [2] Palit, A. (2009). Skills Development in India: Challenges and Strategies. Institute of South Asian Studies, 89, 1–18. [3] https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/106184/88.pdf [4] Paltasingh and Paliwal. (2014). Tribal Population in India: Regional Dimensions & Imperatives. Journal of Regional Development and Planning, 3(2). https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tattwamasi_Paltasingh/publication/3029 04252_ [5] Paltasingh, K. R. (2016). Role of Education in Technology Adoption:Evidence from Paddy Growers in Odisha. ArthaVijnana: Journal of The Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, 58(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.21648/arthavij/ 2016/v58/i1/121263 [6] Paltasingh, T. (2016). Tribal Population in India:Regional Dimensions &Imperatives. Journal of Regional Development and Planning, 3(2), 1–11. PamechaSuman& Shah, L. (2020). Impact of skill development on income and savings of the tribal people. Sanshodhan-ISSN 2249-8567, 14–19. [7] Bawa, K. S., Joseph, G., & Setty, S. (2007). Poverty , biodiversity and institutions in forest-agriculture ecotones in the Western Ghats and Eastern Himalaya ranges of India. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 121, 121, 287–295. [8] Chauhan, J., & Joshi, Y. C. (2018). Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): An Initiative towards Including the Excluded People. International Journal for Innovative Research in Multidisciplinary Field, 4(7), 31. https://www.academia.edu

Copyright

Copyright © 2024 Dr. Sanjay C. Girhepunje. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.