Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said that the state government is setting up tribal cafeterias at major tourist destinations of Madhya Pradesh to promote tribal culture and economically empower the local tribal communities.

Tribal cafeterias are under construction at Turia village near Pench National Park in the Seoni district of the state, near Kanha National Park in the Balaghat district, and at Mandu in Dhar district. Through these cafeterias, tourists can experience the regional tribal culture, food, cuisine, and craftsmanship.

Chief Minister Yadav said that the objective of this initiative is not only to promote tourism but also to provide employment opportunities to the local tribal communities. It will give recognition to the art and culture of the tribal community at the national level.

Local tribal cuisine, handicrafts and traditional decorations will be available in the cafeteria, allowing tourists to enjoy a unique cultural and family experience.

The establishment of these cafeterias will provide employment to the local tribal communities, which will increase their income. New opportunities will also be created in the tourism industry.

A formal proposal in this regard was prepared by Vanya Sansthan under the Tribal Affairs Department and sent to the government. Approval for 5 trial cafeterias has been received from the government. The Tribal Cafeteria will be operated by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (MPT).

For this, self-help groups of the tribal class will be linked. These groups will prepare traditional dishes of regional tribes and sell them through this cafeteria. In the Tribal Cafeteria, nutritious food of the tribes, dishes made from Kodo-Kutki, Jowar-Bajra, Maize-Mahua, Char-Achar, etc., sweets, halwa, etc. will be prepared and sold to the tourists.

Besides, tribal crafts, paintings, toys, bamboo products, etc. will also be sold. This will provide new means of livelihood to the tribal community and will also generate additional income.

In the first phase, work has been started by selecting the site (land) for setting up tribal cafeterias in 3 districts of the state. The design for the tribal cafeteria has also been passed. In the second phase, similar tribal cafeterias will be opened in other districts including Chhatarpur.

Development fund received under Tribal Area Administration

Under Article 275 of the Constitution, 100 percent amount is given as a grant by the Central Government for implementing development schemes under the Tribal Area Administration.

This amount is allocated to the state governments through the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Development funds have also been received for the Tribal Cafeteria under the Tribal Area Administration.

These tribal cafeterias will be run by MPT through Vanya Sansthan under the full ownership of the Tribal Affairs Department. MPT will also provide proper training and technical guidance to the self-help groups of the tribal category for the Tribal Cafeteria. The government is making great efforts towards the economic self-reliance of the tribes through the Tribal Cafeteria being established for the promotion of tribal art and culture and the sale of products including traditional tribal food and dishes.