Centre disburses subsidy of Rs 504 crore to 22,259 new units under PMEGP scheme
New Delhi, June 18
The Centre's Khadi and Village Industries Commission has disbursed online margin money subsidies to the tune of Rs 504.68 crore for 22,259 new projects to village artisans and micro enterprises across the country under the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme, the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises said on Thursday.
Banks have sanctioned loans worth approximately Rs 1,485 crore for these projects, which are expected to generate employment opportunities for 244,849 people, a MSME Ministry statement said.
The distribution of funds took place at a 'Khadi Rozgar Utsav' organised at Siwani in Haryana's Bhiwani district on Wednesday. KVIC Chairman Manoj Goyal and Haryana Chief Minister Haryana Nayab Singh Saini presided over the event in which 3,645 modern machines and toolkits were also distributed virtually to 972 artisans across seven states and Union Territories -- Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, and Tripura.
On the occasion, KVIC Chairman Goyal said that the khadi and village industries sector has achieved remarkable milestones, with total production rising to approximately Rs 1.25 lakh crore, and the turnover reaching a record level of Rs 1.87 lakh crore. He further stated that the sector has provided employment to 2.04 crore people across the country. He attributed this achievement to the collective efforts of lakhs of artisans, weavers, rural entrepreneurs, and hhadi institutions nationwide. The KVIC has now set an ambitious turnover target of Rs 2.51 lakh crore.
Goyal also highlighted that over the past 12 years, more than 10.84 lakh new units have been established across the country under the PMEGP, for which the Centre has provided margin money subsidy amounting to Rs 29,623 crore, resulting in employment for approximately 97.95 lakh people.
Chief Minister Saini said that khadi was a symbol of Swadeshi and has symbolised the labour, dignity, and self-respect of crores of Indians since the freedom movement itself.
He said that 58,796 artisans are finding employment through 96 active khadi and village industries institutions in Haryana. Likewise, more than 1.27 lakh people in the state have secured employment under the Village Industries Development Scheme.
The Chief Minister further stated that it is a matter of pride for them that 80 per cent of the artisans associated with the khadi sector were women. This transformation shows a new revolution in women's empowerment.
"We are putting in place a comprehensive system to ensure that the excellent products created by these groups reach markets across the country and abroad, through both local outlets and e-commerce platforms," he added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Wonderful initiative! Khadi is not just fabric, it's our heritage and an instrument of women empowerment. The fact that 80% of artisans are women shows how schemes like these can transform rural livelihoods. I just hope the e-commerce platforms they mention actually help these women get fair prices without exploitation.
Impressive numbers: 10.84 lakh new units, ₹29,623 crore subsidy, employment for 97.95 lakh people over 12 years. That's macro-level progress. The turnover target of ₹2.51 lakh crore shows ambition. But we must ask: are these figures independently verified? And does the employment count include sustainable, year-round jobs or just seasonal work?
I'm from Bhiwani and saw the 'Khadi Rozgar Utsav' firsthand. It was inspiring to see local artisans getting modern machines. My uncle is a potter and he received a new electric wheel. But the real challenge is market access—these artisans still struggle to get fair prices. Hope the government's e-commerce plan addresses this.
The Swadeshi angle is powerful. 1.87 lakh crore turnover from Khadi sector shows that rural India is rising. But I'd like to see more granular data on how many of these 2.04 crore employed are in formal jobs with social security. Also, how does this compare to private sector employment generation in the same period?
Finally, some real support for grassroots entrepreneurs! My mother runs a small khadi unit in Rajasthan and she says the margin money subsidy was a lifesaver during COVID.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.