“DHARTI AABA TRIBEPRENEURS”

“DHARTI AABA TRIBEPRENEURS”

Replying to an un-starred question of Shri Mithlesh Kumar & Shri Mokariya Rambhai , the Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durgadas Uikey stated in a written reply in Rajya Sabha that DhartiAabaTribePreneurs 2025, a flagship initiative under Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, a revered tribal freedom fighter and leader, was organized by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs from April 3-5, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi as part of Startup Mahakumbh 2025. The initiative provided a transformative platform for budding and established Scheduled Tribe (ST) entrepreneurs and brought together India’s most promising tribal startups, offering them unparalleled exposure to industry leaders, venture capitalists, and impact investors—fostering inclusive economic growth and empowerment.

The initiative provided tribal entrepreneurs an opportunity to showcase their innovations, network with top investors and engage in technical sessions featuring unicorn founders, venture capitalists and startup leaders. DhartiAabaTribePreneurs 2025 served as a launchpad for tribal-led enterprises, helping them secure mentorship, strategic networking, and investment opportunities with a strong focus on innovation, inclusivity, visibility on a larger scale and market expansion to elevate their businesses to national and global platforms.

Ministry has partnered with premier institutions/organisations such as IIM Calcutta, IIT Delhi, IIM Kashipur, IIT Bhilai, IIT Guwahati, IFCI Venture Capital Funds Limited and META to ensure deep and lasting impact on the tribal startups. A major milestone in this journey is the establishment of a Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Tribes, with an initial corpus of ₹50 crore, dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in tribal communities.