Lok Sabha Question No. 2798 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-05
Subject: Promotion of Traditional Occupation
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: T. R. Paarivendhar

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2798 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.12.2019

## PROMOTION OF TRADITIONAL OCCUPATION

2798.

DR. T.R. PAARIVENDHAR:

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

- (a) whether the Union Government is aware that traditional business/occupation of weaving of mats (a spread woven of reeds or grass) in the parts of Musiri, Kulithalai in Tamil Nadu is slowly getting destroyed/wiped out and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Union Government would take necessary steps to safeguard and improve the traditional occupation by extending financial assistance, subsidies, loan, setting up of industries along with export guidance to these mats producers;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI NITIN GADKARI)

- (a): No,  Sir.    Units  set  up  under  Prime  Minister's  Employment  Generation Programme  (PMEGP)  scheme  for  weaving  of  mats  (Pathamadai  pai-  Grass  mat making) shows an increasing trend in Tamil Nadu as furnished in the following table:

Year-wise units set up under PMEGP for weaving of mats in Tamil Nadu

| Year                      |   Number of units established |   Total loan amount disbursed by bank (Rs. in crore) |   Total margin money subsidy availed (Rs. in crore) |   Number of employment provided |
|---------------------------|-------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 2017-18                   |                            34 |                                                 0.68 |                                                0.24 |                             272 |
| 2018-19                   |                            79 |                                                 0.74 |                                                0.27 |                             632 |
| 2019-20 (upto 27.11.2019) |                           142 |                                                 2.84 |                                                0.94 |                            1136 |
| Total                     |                           255 |                                                 4.26 |                                                1.45 |                            2040 |

(b)& (c): The  traditional  occupation  of  grass  mat  producers  is  supported  under Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) scheme.  PMEGP is a credit linked subsidy scheme, for setting up of new micro-enterprises and to generate employment opportunities in rural as well as urban areas through Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), State Khadi & Village Industries Boards (KVIB) and District Industries Centres (DICs).  General category beneficiaries can avail of margin money subsidy of 25% of the project cost in rural areas and 15% in urban areas. For beneficiaries belonging to special categories such as SC/ST/Women/PH/Minorities/Ex-Servicemen/NER,  the  margin  money  subsidy  is 35% in rural areas and 25% in urban areas. The maximum cost of projects is Rs.25 lakh in the manufacturing sector and Rs.10 lakh in the service sector.

In  addition  to  the  above,  Ministry  of  MSME  is  implementing  the  Scheme  of Fund  for  Regeneration  of  Traditional  Industries  (SFURTI)  for  making  Traditional Industries  more  productive  and  competitive  by  organizing  the  Traditional  Industries and artisans into clusters.

Regarding  export,  Government  is  providing  assistance  under  the  Market Promotion and Development Assistance (MPDA) Scheme to the eligible Khadi and Village  Industries  (KVI)  Institutions  for  participation  in  International  Exhibitions/ Trade Fairs held in foreign countries in  order to showcase KVI products to  foreign countries, access international buyers and sellers and forge business alliances, etc.

(d): Does not arise.

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