Maharashtra’s tribal department jumps on biz bandwagon

PUNE: The state tribal department, which is participating in the Magnetic Maharashtra investment summit for the first time, aims to showcase business opportunities in the tribal areas.
The department wants to attract investment via the private public partnership (PPP) route in various sectors such as education, skill development, export, tourism, agriculture and other areas rather than only in the area of corporate social responsibility.
Principal secretary, tribal development department, Manisha Verma, told TOI that it will be for the first time that the department will enter into a private partnership for taking forward various schemes.
The Magnetic Maharashtra summit is an exhibition organised by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as national partner and KPMG as knowledge partner. The state is targeting investments worth Rs 10 lakh crore during the summit, which will kick off on Sunday.
“For the first time, we are showcasing various areas where corporates can enter into a partnership and not just restrict themselves to CSR activities. We have a network of educational institutes under the tribal department. These schools can be adopted by corporates.”
“Not just education, there is enough scope too in floriculture, agriculture and even tourism,’’ said Verma.
With the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) at Ghodegaon, Pune, taking the lead in organising the exhibition, Ayush Prasad, project director, ITDP, Ghodegaon, told TOI that the stall will showcase different regions in the tribal areas which can attract investments and help boost tribal entrepreneurship. “Our role will be that of a facilitator and we will help link the corporate world with the tribal people and give access to vast resources in tribal belt,’’ said Prasad.
The department also wants to boost skill development and help employ educated youths with the support of the corporate sector.