The Union Minister for MSME,Kalraj Mishra inaugurates the ‘Khadi Karigar Sammelan’ and a ‘District Level PMEGP Exhibition’ today at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Auditorium, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. Congratulating the Khadi artisans Shri Kalraj Mishra said that he was happy to see so many khadi artisans, weavers, and spinners from Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh attending the Sammelan “Ab banayenge khadi ko no. 1”. He further added that the focus of the Sammelan are issues relating to the welfare of Khadi artisan and efforts to enhance the skill, wages, social security issues and to double Khadi production. Under the Khadi & Village Industries Program around 11.27 lakh Khadi artisans have been provided employment opportunities in the country out of which 4.17 lakh artisans are from Uttar Pradesh.
KVIC in association with LIC is implementing Khadi Artisan Bima Yojna. At present 2.86 lakhs artisans in the age group of 18-59 years has been covered. Out of which 1.28 lakhs are from Uttar Pradesh. In addition, for the benefit of Khadi artisan’s 4324 artisan work-shed has been constructed throughout India, out of which 1104 work-shed are located in Uttar Pradesh. For economic security of Khadi artisans, Artisan Welfare Fund Trust has been established in each State. In Uttar Pradesh there are two Artisan Welfare Trust working at Meerut and Lucknow. PMEGP is playing important role for providing self employment to the first generation entrepreneurs in Rural and Urban area.
Under PMEGP scheme since 2008-09 up to 2014-15, a total 320828 units have been established through which Rs. 27.70 lakhs of persons has been given employment. Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises has been given Rs. 6,347.33 cores to these units by way of Margin Money Subsidy. A target of 52875 units has been fixed for the year 2015-16 throughout India by which 4.23 lakhs of persons will get the opportunity of self employment. For establishing the above units Rs. 1,019 crores as Margin Money subsidy has been earmarked. Progress of PMEGP in Uttar Pradesh Under the scheme of PMEGP in Uttar Pradesh, total 30703 units have been established during the period from 2008-09 to 2014-15 through which 316419 persons have been provided employment. Since 2008-09 to 2014-15, the Government has provided Rs. 981.05 crores assistance as Margin Money Subsidy.
During the year 2014-15 the target for setting up of 12378 units and Margin Money Subsidy of Rs. 170.73 was fixed to provide employment to 99024 persons. During 2015-16 the target for setting up of 5978 PMEGP units to provide employment to 47,824 persons has been fixed and an amount of Rs.119.55 crores has been earmarked as Margin Money Subsidy. There are 30 stalls set up in the exhibition displaying Herbal Products, Health Care Food Products, Handmade Paper Products, Decorative Handicraft Items, Pottery Products, Bio-manure and Khadi Garments & Readymades. These products are also available for sale. There is live demonstration of spinning, weaving and pottery work. Present on the occasion were, Ravinder Kumar Bhadana MLA south Meerut, Shri Arun Kumar Jha, CEO & Commissioner, KVIC and other senior officials of KVIC and representatives of Khadi & Village Industries institutions.