The Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, through Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), has taken the following steps to enhance the work capacity of Khadi Industries in the country including Rajasthan:

1. Modified Market Development Assistance (MMDA) scheme introduced to help Khadi Institutions (KIs) to reorient their activities extending adequate emphasis towards increasing artisans' earnings as well as ensuring quality of Khadi to customers. MMDA for Cotton / Muslin / Woollen & Polyvastra shall be calculated @ 35% on Prime Cost. In case of Silk Khadi, the quantum of MMDA will be @ 20% on Prime Cost. 35% of this assistance is given as incentive to the Khadi Artisans, 14% as incentive to the Karyakartas and 51% as a share of Khadi Institutions (KIs).

2. Workshed Scheme for Khadi Artisans: Under this component, financial assistance is provided to Khadi artisans to construct workshed. For construction of individual workshed, an assistance upto Rs 1,20,000/- or 75% of the cost (90% for NER) and for group workshed (minimum 5 & maximum 15 artisans), an assistance upto Rs. 80,000/- per artisan or 75% of the cost (90% for NER), whichever is less, is provided.

3. Strengthening of Infrastructure of Weak Khadi Institution and Assistance for Marketing Infrastructure: This component provides financial support to the Weak Khadi Institutions with assistance of Rs. 15 lakh per KI to regain normalcy. Besides, financial assistance of Rs. 25 lakh per sales outlet is also provided to KIs/Departmental Outlets for its renovation.

Apart from the above, a Khadi Knowledge Portal (KPP) has been created under Centre of Excellence for Khadi (CoEK), in which designs, specifications with sketches are uploaded for adoption by KIs. Also, Capacity Building workshops have already been conducted by CoEK for Khadi Institutions at different locations.

KVIC is setting up Marino Wool Raw Material Bank at Bikaner, Rajasthan in order to supply raw material needed by KIs for increased production, thereby increasing earnings of the Khadi artisans.

Total of 30,519 Khadi workers is currently employed in Khadi Industries in the State of Rajasthan.

KVIC implements various schemes under the Khadi Vikas Yojana for improving the income of Khadi artisans which are as follows:

1. 35% quantum of Modified Marketing Development Assistance (MMDA) is provided to artisans as incentive in case of KIs of Cotton, Woolen, Polyvastra and 30% quantum of MMDA is provided as incentive to KIs for Silk.
2. Financial assistance is also provided under Workshed Scheme for construction of individual as well as group workshed for smooth and fatigue free work environment.

Apart from the above, spinning wages of artisans have been increased from Rs. 7.50/-per hank to Rs.10.00/-per hank and weaving wages for Cotton Khadi, Woollen Khadi and Polyvastra have been increased by 10% w.e.f. 01.04.2023.

This information was given by Minister of State for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

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MJPS/NSK