The J&K Khadi and Village Industries Board (JKKVIB) has sponsored 1697 cases involving financial assistance to the tune Rs. 30.65 crore against a target of 593 cases fixed under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) for the current fiscal.This was stated at the 102nd Board of Directors meeting of the Board held at Civil Secretariat here Tuesday under the Chairmanship of Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Prakash Ganga.The Board was informed that some 741 cases involving Margin Money outlay of Rs. 14.10 crore and envisaging employment opportunities for 5500 persons have been sanctioned with some 314 of them involving Margin Money of Rs. 6.15 crore having been disbursed so far.The meeting was also informed that during the 2016-17 fiscal financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 14 crore was released in favor of some 840 unit holders against a target of 324 units involving financial assistance of Rs. 6.5 crore.In regard to sensitization and awareness about the KVIB-implemented schemes amongst the people living in far-flung areas, the meeting was informed that the Board has organized some 22 awareness camps in remote areas of various districts, including 8 such camps in those of Leh and Kargils districts, so far in the current fiscal.
Besides, under its Backward and Forward Linkage Programme, a National-level Khadi exhibition in the State and a ten-day State-level Khadi exhibition in Leh were both organized for the first time. The latter, which boasted 52 different stalls, saw realization of sales worth Rs. 62 lac.
With regard to the status of Cluster projects funded under the GoI’s Scheme of Funds for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) in the State, the Board was informed that 3 out of 5 such projects submitted for funding have been approved with first installment of funds released in respect of them all. The approved projects include Martand Crewel and Chain Stitch Cluster in Anantnag, Sukhnag Sozni Embroidery Handicraft Cluster in Budgam and Kausar Maunch Bee Keeping Cluster in Srinagar.It was also said that the Project Screening Committee under SFURTI has approved seven additional Cluster projects for onward submission to Ministry of MSME, GoI.The meeting was also informed that a District Office of the Board is coming up in Shopian. The Board also directed for establishing district offices in Leh and Kargil and instructed for providing new computer systems to all district offices.
In order to ensure that sanctioned cases are disbursed in time, the Board directed for holding of District Level Committee meetings once a month. It also directed the District Offices to be in continuous communication with concerned DCs regarding the status of sponsored cases for financial assistance.JKKVIB was also instructed to facilitate prospective entrepreneurs in preparing their DPRs.During the meeting, the Board also adopted a resolution for recruitment against direct quota vacancies in JKKVIB. The resolution read that no appointments shall be made against any post on adhoc, contractual, consolidated or temporary basis.The Board also approved regularization of five out of nine contractual employees of JKKVIB as per recommendations of the Empowered Committee and said decision about other four such employees will be taken after proper examination of their cases.Minister for Industries and Commerce and Chairman JKKVIB, Chander Prakash Ganga, congratulated the Board for its performance but stressed on greater efforts and sustainable achievements of targets. He particularly stressed on the importance of targeting people living in far-flung areas.