Mumbai, 1 March 2024

In order to achieve the goal of building a 'developed and Atmanirbhar Bharat’ by 2047 as per the vision of Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India distributed high quality toolkits to the artisans of Maharashtra after modern training on Tuesday. In the distribution program organized at Democracy Convention Center located at Trimbak Road, Satpur in Nashik district, the chief guest, KVIC’s Chairman Shri Manoj Kumar distributed 449 machinery and toolkits to 240 artisans and certificates to 250 trainees under the Gram Udyog Vikas Yojana. The special feature of the distribution program was that for the first time, 20 women were distributed electrician toolkit after training. All these women were trained in Shrirampur, Ahmednagar. 

During the distribution programme, Electric operated wheelto 120 potters, Kachchi Ghani oil machine to 50 artisans, electrician toolkit to20 women, 4 paper plate and dona making machines to 20 artisans,300 Bee-boxes to 30 beekeepers were distributed. Addressing the beneficiaries, KVIC’s Chairman Shri Manoj Kumar said that under the guidance of Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, various schemes of Khadi and Village Industries are being implemented by KVIC to provide employment to the unemployed like Workshed for Khadi Artisans, KRDP, Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme, to keep the traditional industries of rural areas alive under the Sfurti and Gram Udyog Vikas Yojana, many schemes like Potter Empowerment Programme, Honey Mission, Leather Industry, Agarbatti Industry, Hand Paper Industry, Turn Wood Craft and Electricians & Plumbers schemes in the service sectorare being implemented.

The above distribution program was organized in this sequence. There are 33 Khadi institutions in Maharashtra, through which 1400 Khadi artisans are getting employment. Under the Gram Udyog Vikas Yojana, in the last 03 years, 700 electric operated wheels have been provided to the potters along with high quality skill training, which has increased their livingstandardand income. In the last 2 years, chalk has been distributed to 120 potters in Nashik district. Similarly, the state office has distributed Agarbatti manufacturing machines and training to 250 women, 1500 Bee-boxes and colonies to 150 beekeepers in the last 03 years. 

While communicating with the artisans directly, KVIC’s Chairman Shri Manoj Kumar said that under the Gram Udyog Vikas Yojan, KVIC has so far distributed electric operated wheel to more than 27 thousand potter brothers and sisters across the country, thereby helping more than 1 lakh potters. There has been a big change in their life. Under the same scheme, more than 6000 toolkits and machinery have been distributed to the artisans living in the villages, while under the Honey Mission Scheme, more than 2 lakh Bee-boxes and Bee-Colonies have been distributed to more than 20,000 beneficiaries so far. 

In his presidential address, Shri Manoj Kumar emphasized that the guarantees of the Modi government have made Khadi and village industry products popular globally. In the last 9 years, 'Naye Bharta ki Nayi khadi' has given a new direction to the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Campaign', as a result of which, the sales of Khadi products have registered more than four times during this period. With the increase in production and sale of Khadi, the artisans of rural India have become economically prosperous. He further informed that the increase in remuneration of artisans by more than 233 per cent in the last 9 years has attracted the artisans towards Khadi work. On this occasion, KVIC Chairman Shri Manoj Kumar said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's 'Vocal for Local' and 'Make in India' mantras have made Khadi popular among the youth. In the last 9 years, the turnover of Khadi and village industry products has crossed the figure of Rs.1.34 lakh crore, while during this period more than 9.50 lakh new employments have been generated. 

In the distribution programme, representatives of Khadi institutions, Khadi workers and artisans, beneficiaries of Gram Udyog Vikas Yojana including representatives of banks, officers and employees of KVIC, KVIB and Maharashtra Government were present. 

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(Source: KVIC) | PIB Mumbai | SC/ D.Rane

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