Sri Vijaya Puram, June 9: A livelihood initiative launched for the Onge tribe of Little Andaman under the Centre’s tribal development programmes has begun yielding results, with members of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) generating income through the production and sale of value-added coconut products.
The initiative, implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) and the Van Dhan Yojana of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has led to the establishment of a Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK) at Dugong Creek in Little Andaman.
Officials said the centre has been created to promote sustainable livelihood opportunities among the Onge community by enabling members to utilize locally available natural resources for income generation.
The Van Dhan Vikas Kendra has been formally registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, providing an institutional framework for community-led economic activities.
As part of the initiative, seven Self-Help Groups (SHGs) comprising 56 members of the Onge community have been formed. The groups are engaged in processing coconuts and producing value-added products such as copra and coconut oil, making use of the abundant coconut resources available in and around Dugong Creek.
The project is being implemented through a multi-agency approach. The Directorate of Tribal Welfare serves as the nodal agency, while the Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti (AAJVS) functions as the State Implementation Agency. NABARD has been assigned the role of mentoring agency, providing technical guidance and institutional support.
To establish the centre, the Government of India sanctioned financial assistance of ₹2.80 lakh under the scheme. The funding was utilized for creating the basic infrastructure and equipping community members with the necessary tools and skills required for production activities.
Officials said extensive capacity-building efforts were undertaken before the centre became operational. Members of the Onge community received training in copra processing, coconut oil extraction techniques and the use of processing equipment.
In addition to skill development, toolkits containing coconut peelers, manual de-husking equipment, steel containers and other essential implements were distributed to participants to facilitate production activities.
A key component of the project has been the installation of a modern cold-press coconut oil extraction machine at Dugong Creek. The equipment enables the production of high-quality coconut oil while maintaining nutritional value and improving marketability.
The Van Dhan Vikas Kendra became operational on June 29, 2025, and has since been working towards creating sustainable economic opportunities within the community.
The initiative gained national visibility earlier this year when the Onge VDVK participated in Adi Mahotsav 2026, a major tribal festival held in New Delhi in March.
According to officials, the community generated approximately ₹3 lakh through the sale of coconut oil during the event. Beyond immediate sales, participation in the festival also provided exposure to wider markets and enabled the establishment of long-term business contacts.
Authorities believe these market linkages could open new opportunities for the Onge community to expand the reach of its products beyond the islands and access a broader customer base.
The project is being viewed as an important milestone in efforts to strengthen economic self-reliance among the Onge, one of the most vulnerable indigenous communities of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Traditionally dependent on forest and coastal resources, the Onge population has witnessed significant socio-economic changes over the decades. Development programmes in recent years have increasingly focused on balancing livelihood enhancement with the preservation of cultural identity and sustainable use of natural resources.
Officials say the Van Dhan initiative demonstrates how locally available resources can be transformed into viable economic opportunities through training, institutional support and market access.
By combining skill development, entrepreneurship and community participation, the project aims to provide a sustainable source of income while encouraging the conservation and productive utilization of natural resources.
With the early success of coconut oil production and national-level market exposure, the Dugong Creek Van Dhan Vikas Kendra is now being seen as a model for tribal livelihood development that could be replicated in other remote areas of the islands.
