Lok Sabha Question No. 505 (STARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: Khadi Research and Development Centre
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *505 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.04.2017

## KHADI RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

## *505.   SHRIMATI DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH:

Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  a  Khadi  Research  and  Development Centre in the various parts of the country including Gujarat;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including progress made so far in this regard;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  issue  fresh  instructions  to  all  PSUs/  Public Sector  Banks/Railways/LIC,  State  Governments  and  other  Government  entities  for  use  of Khadi items and also for inclusion of Khadi activities under MGNREGA programme; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the other steps taken by the Government to boost up Khadi Udyog in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI KALRAJ MISHRA)

(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO THE PART (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No.*505 FOR ANSWER ON 10.04.2017

- (a): No Madam.
- (b): Does not arise.
- (c): No instructions have been issued by the Ministry for use of Khadi items by PSUs, etc. and for inclusion of Khadi under MGNREGA programme.
- (d): Does not arise.  However, various measures including the following measures have been taken by the Government to increase production and sales of Khadi in the country:
- 1) An online application system has been made operational for disbursement of Market Promotion & Development Assistance (MPDA). Disbursement of financial assistance to Khadi Institutions (KIs) as well as Artisans is done directly to the bank accounts of the KIs and Artisans online under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
- 2) To boost Khadi Programme in the country Online Registration of Khadi  Institutions has  been  started,  so  that  maximum  number  of  persons  and  NGOs  can  take  up  the Khadi Production and Sales activities.
- 3) Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) provides interest subvention for the bank finance availed for meeting working capital requirement of KIs under the Interest Subsidy  Eligibility  Certificate  (ISEC)  Scheme.    The  subsidy  under  the  scheme  is remitted directly to the cash credit account of KIs online.
- 4) 'Khadi  Mark'  has  also  been  introduced  to  guarantee  the  genuineness  and  purity  of khadi sold in the market.
- 5) Financial assistance is also being provided for the renovation/modernization of Sales Outlets of institutions as well as Departmental Sales Outlets (DSOs) and State KVIBs.
- 6) KVIC has applied to register 'Khadi' as a word mark and 'Khadi India' as a Trade mark in 27 classes for various products among 45 classes listed out in the IPR Act at National Level as well as has filed an online application for registering 'Khadi' as a trade mark under International Bureau in European Union and other countries under 16 different class.
- 7) KVIC has taken the initiative to open premier 'Khadi Showrooms' known as Khadi Lounge to make available premier Khadi products including designer products. Khadi products  are  also  available  through  the  KVIC  Franchise  Outlets.  In  Jaipur,  Mumbai and New Delhi, Khadi Lounge has already been opened.
- 8) Opening of Khadi sales outlets at major Airports for introducing  Khadi for the elite class at Visakhapatnam and Lucknow.
- 9) Khadi  Reform  and  Development  Programme  (KRDP)  has  been  restructured  under KRDP Programme  under  which  Khadi  Institutions  can  develop  their  infrastructure, computer aided designs,  common  facility  center  and  also  renovate  their  Sales-outlet and work shed etc. at about 105 million USD.
- 10) Institutional  sales  and  Bulk  orders  have  been  received  from  Oil  &  Natural  Gas Corporation  Ltd.  (ONGC)  Rs.47.00  cr,  National  Thermal  Power  Corporation  Ltd. (NTPC)  Rs.5.50  cr,  Air  India  Rs.8.50  cr  and  Rural  Electrification  Corporation  Ltd. (REC) Rs.1.00 cr.