More Than 10 Lakh Weavers Working Under Khadi Sector

There are 10,25,408 spinners and weavers working under Khadi Sector as on 31.3.2015, comprising of 8,78,857 spinners and 1,46,551 weavers, Minister of State, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Giriraj Singh informed Rajya Sabha.

Under Village Industries Sector, KVIC as a nodal agency  is implementing, a credit linked subsidy programme namely, Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) for generating employment by setting up micro enterprises including agro/rural industries in the non-farm sector.

Village Industries activities are taking place in all the States/UTs across the country, however, the Khadi spinning and weaving activities are not taking place in Sikkim, Mizoram, Goa, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry owing to non-existence of Khadi Institutions.

Government through Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is making consistent efforts to provide employment to more spinners and weavers in Khadi Sector, the Minister said in a written reply in Parliament.

Government is implementing the programmes like - Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme; Work shed Scheme for Khadi Artisans; Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) and Interest Subsidy Eligibility Certificate (ISEC) Scheme to provide employment.