Chhattisgarh launches TIN portal to ensure fair tin prices for tribal collectors
Chhattisgarh's TIN portal digitizes tin procurement, links prices to LME, and ensures direct payments to tribal collectors in Bastar.
The Chhattisgarh government on Monday launched the Tribal Incentives on Natural Resources (TIN) portal, a digital platform designed to secure fair and transparent pricing for tribal communities that collect tin ore in the Bastar region. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced the initiative, which aims to streamline the entire procurement process.
According to officials of the Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation Limited (CMDC), Bastar district holds the entirety of India's tin ore reserves. The ore is either mined directly by the CMDC or gathered from tribal residents through cooperatives. The new portal brings registration, quality testing, price determination, and payment into a single, transparent system.
A key feature of the portal is its linkage of tin prices to the London Metal Exchange (LME), ensuring that payments reflect prevailing international market rates. Once the tin is sold, the payment is transferred directly to the beneficiary's bank account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). This approach is intended to reduce the role of intermediaries, minimize delays, and channel a larger share of the value to tribal families.
The system is designed for simplicity and transparency. Beneficiaries register digitally, the quality of tin is tested, and every transaction is recorded online. QR-based verification, banking integration, and SMS alerts allow collectors to track the quantity purchased, the price determined, and the status of their payment. CMDC can also monitor procurement, stocks, and payments in real time.
Currently, CMDC procures tin through six centres in the Bastar division. Three additional collection and procurement centres are proposed in Bastar, Dantewada, and Sukma, which would make it easier for collectors in remote areas to sell their produce locally. In 2024-25, CMDC purchased 8,707.2 kg of tin ore and paid around ₹90.82 lakh to tribal beneficiaries. In 2025-26, procurement increased to 20,895.335 kg, with payments of approximately ₹3.81 crore.
Chief Minister Sai described the TIN Portal as more than a digital procurement platform—it is a "Mineral-to-Livelihood" initiative. The goal is to ensure that the economic value generated from Bastar's natural resources directly contributes to the income and livelihoods of tribal families.