Sri Vijaya Puram, June 8: Under the visionary Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) and the Van Dhan Yojana of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, GoI, a major achievement has been made with the establishment of a Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK) at Dugong Creek for the Onge Tribe of Little Andaman.
The VDVK has been registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and aims to improve the livelihood of the Onge community through sustainable income-generating activities.
To run the VDVK, seven Self-Help Groups (SHGs) consisting of 56 Onge members have been formed. The members are engaged in producing value-added coconut products such as copra and coconut oil, making use of the abundant coconut resources available in the area.
The Directorate of Tribal Welfare is the Nodal Agency for the project, while the Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti (AAJVS) is the State Implementation Agency and NABARD serves as the mentoring agency.
The Government of India provided financial assistance of Rs. 2.80 lakh for setting up of VDVK to Onge community. Members of the Onge community received training in copra processing, coconut oil extraction, and the use of processing equipment. Toolkits such as coconut peelers, steel containers, manual de-husking tools, and knives were also distributed.
A modern cold-press coconut oil extraction machine has been installed at Dugong Creek, enabling the production of high-quality coconut oil. The Onge VDVK became operational on 29.06.2025.
The success of the initiative was showcased when the Onge VDVK participated in the Adi Mahotsav 2026, the National Tribal Festival held in New Delhi in March 2026. During the event, the society generated approximately Rs. 3 Lakhs through the sale of coconut oil. The participation also helped establish valuable long-term business connections, creating new market opportunities for products made by the Onge community.
This initiative marks an important step towards the empowerment of the Onge Tribe by promoting skill development, sustainable livelihoods, and economic self-reliance through the effective use of local resources.
