TEDP has opened up a new avenue for tribal entrepreneurs

Jan 13, 2022

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic affected everyone around the world in one way or another. While many people combated with job losses and stared at an uncertain future, the Tribal Development Entrepreneurship Program (TEDP), a government initiative, proved to be a boon for tribal artisans across the country. The training proved to be beneficial for them and they were able to earn a handsome income to support their families during the pandemic-induced lockdown. The TEDP training aims to improve the lives of the tribal community of India by providing them a platform to promote their work online and help them reach a global market.

The Tribal Entrepreneurship Development Program (TEDP), is a joint venture between the Ministry of Tribal Affair (MoTA), and the Associated Chamber of Industry and Commerce (ASSOCHAM), the apex trade body. The program is in line with the vision shared by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi of making the country AatmaNirbhar or self-reliant.

Tribal artisans like Rudhan Devi, Awani Bhushan Ram, Vianney Nongrum, and Joma Devi among others, have successfully applied the TEDP learnings in their daily lives. They have not only learned to create their own business page on Facebook, but also seen a hike in their annual income, despite the pandemic.

Take Rudan Devi (50) for instance. The Sohrai artist from Jharkhand got more work after she trained under TEDP in February 2021. “We learned to paint on paper and cloth. It was a novel experience,” she recalls. The artist and her family were unfazed during the lockdown when most businesses were hit. “We were still getting orders for our paintings. We would send the pictures on WhatsApp for the client’s approval. They would then deposit the money in our bank accounts directly,” says Rudhan Devi.

Awani Bhushan Ram, 52, who belongs to the Mahli tribe, has been making Sohrai paintings for the past 20 years. He was even felicitated by the then Vice President of India in 2002 for his contribution towards art and tribal culture. However, his art remained confined to a limited sphere and could not reach the remotest corners of the world. The artist participated in the TEDP, which helped him to use the features of social media networking sites like Facebook. “The workshop not only helped me in enhancing my knowledge of social media but also made me aware of how to conduct online business,” shares Awani, who bagged an order worth Rs 1 lakh through Facebook last year.

Similarly, Vianney Nongrum, 31, is a proud member of the Khasi tribe, Meghalaya. She represents the modern tribal woman who is not only good at making handicrafts but also makes a living through it. The TEDP course provided her with helpful insights into digital and financial literacy to enhance her business. It has helped her to expand her outreach and enabled her to make a social media presence and improve her product catalogue. She now earns Rs 20,000-Rs 25,000 per month due to her online presence, as compared to the Rs. 10,000–Rs 15,000 that she earned in the past. The business, which was once a seasonal trade, is now Vianney’s main source of income.

The skills acquired by these artisans under TEDP have made them hopeful of brighter prospects. For instance, Joma Devi, 51, who do embroidery work i.e Katai-Bunai in Niti Malari village, Uttarakhand has variety to offer her customers now, “Previously I used to make embroidery designs on kaleen, stole and shawl and sell them at the local market,” she says. This limited range of products restricted her market reach. She would earn around Rs 5,000 per month then, depending upon the customers. TEDP came to her rescue last summer, where she got to learn additional skills. “I learned to make new embroidery designs at the workshop, which helped me to raise Rs 10,000- Rs 15,000 per month in a local market,” she shares.

The joint entrepreneurial initiative was launched on 2nd October last year on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Since then they have succeeded in bringing 350 tribal artisans from various parts of the country into the mainstream of society. The program has provided artisans with opportunities to present themselves digitally to access global markets.