- Madhya Pradesh’s highest revenue-generating Forest-Dhan Development Centre
Kanda One Dhan Development Center has become a symbol of tribal women’s entrepreneurship. Dakshina Panna Mein Skill Is Kendra M.P. I got the highest revenue.
The Center has earned a record revenue of around Rs 21.4 lakh this year and a profit of around Rs 5 lakh , which represents an increase of over 400 per cent in revenue and over 800 per cent in profit as compared to the average of the last three years. In the previous years, the revenue and profit of the center was 6.5 lakh rupees and 17 thousand rupees in the year 2021-22 , 4.7 lakh rupees and 67 thousand rupees in the year 2022-23 , 2.6 lakh rupees and 63 thousand rupees in the year 2023-24 and 5.1 lakh rupees and 22 thousand rupees in the year 2024-25. This growth is attributed to better value to local collectors , quality processing and effective marketing strategies.
Through Van-Dhan Vikas Kendra Kalda local tribal collectors are getting value of minor forest produce more than minimum support value. It fixed the support value of Achar/Chiraunji Charwa at Rs 130 per kg , while the collectors received around Rs 160 to Rs 180 per kg through Van-Dhan Centre, depending on the quality. Later this product was marketed as “ Kalda Chiraunji ” brand after processing , deseeding , cleaning and attractive packaging . This initiative has increased the income of local collectors and reduced the dependence on middlemen.
The activities of Van-Dhan Vikas Kendra have given great financial support especially to the tribal women members. Many women members , who previously received no income , are currently earning income up to around Rs 5 thousand per month by joining Van-Dhan Kendra. This has not only strengthened the economic status of their families , but has given a new direction to the empowerment of tribal women.
In the year 2025-26, the Center achieved a major achievement when it established a CSR partnership with JK Cement , under which regular monthly supply of Mahua laddus was ensured for Anganwadis and Vidyalayas. This provides a sustainable market for forest-based products and increases employment and income opportunities at the local level.
Kalda Van-Dhan Vikas Kendra is developing various minor forest produce based products like chiraunji , natural honey , mahua laddu , amla based products , triphala churn , dahiman , dry amla , bal harra and baheda peel. Special attention has been given to the quality , hygiene and nutritional standards of the products . In the year 2025-26, most of the major products of the Center were tested in FSSAI accredited laboratories , confirming their high quality , purity and nutritional value. According to the test report, the natural honey was found to have zero HMF and negative Fiehe’s Test , thus confirming that the honey is fresh and without any sugar additives. Similarly, high energy , natural fat and protein were found in chiraunji , while trans fat and cholesterol were not found. Mahua laddus have balanced nutritional content and do not contain any harmful substances , artificial colors or additives.
The achievements of Kalda Van-Dhan Vikas Kendra have received widespread appreciation at the state and national levels as well. In the “ International Forest Fair 2025 ” held at Bhopal, the Centre’s products received the second best award in entire Madhya Pradesh. Kalda Van-Dhan Vikas Kendra was selected as the representative of Madhya Pradesh in the “ Bharat Tribes Fest (Adi Mahotsav) 2026 ” organized in New Delhi , where various products including Chiraunji , natural honey and mahua laddus became the center of attraction. The quality of the products , attractive packaging and effective branding were specially appreciated by the visitors and experts . Dakshin Panna Forest Department is also proposing to establish retail outlets in Panna , Powai and Shahnagar in the near future , so that the local citizens will be able to have easy access to pure and nutritious forest products and the forest based tribal livelihood will be further strengthened.