Lok Sabha Question No. 2388 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-05
Subject: Subsidy to Artisans under Solar Charkha Mission
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: Pradeep Kumar Singh, Shantanu Thakur, Gitaben Vajesingbhai Rathva, Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor, Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2388 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.03.2020

## SUBSIDY TO ARTISANS UNDER SOLAR CHARKHA MISSION

## 2388.  SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH:

SHRI SHANTANU THAKUR:

SHRIMATI RATHVA GITABEN VAJESINGBHAI:

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

SHRI JASWANT SINGH BHABHOR:

SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL:

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

- (a) whether the Government is providing any subsidy to the artisans under Solar Charkha Mission;
- (b) if so, the amount of subsidy being provided under the said mission;
- (c) the number of artisans who have availed the said subsidy till date, particularly in Gujarat, State-wise;
- (d) whether it is likely to help the Government in development of green economy and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the  number  of  clusters  operating  under  Solar  Charkha  Mission  including Gujarat and Bihar, State-wise; and
- (f) the number of artisans to whom employment has been provided under the said mission?

## ANSWER

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

(a)& (b): The  scheme  Mission  Solar  Charkha  is  enterprise  driven  scheme  and envisages  setting  up  of  'Solar  Charkha  Clusters'  which  will  have  200  to  2042 beneficiaries (Spinners, Weavers, Stitchers and other skilled artisans).  Each spinner will be given two charkhas of 10 spindles each. As part of the scheme no subsidy is given, however subsidy to the tune of Rs.9.60 crore is provided for procurement of charkha and looms to the Implementing or Promoting Agency for a full-scale Solar Charkha Cluster involving a total investment of about Rs.38.625 crore.

(c) to (f): Based  on  the  success  of  a  pilot  project  on  Solar  Charkha,  set  up  at Khanwa village, Nawada District, Bihar in 2016 which benefitted about 1180 artisans, Government  of  India  accorded  approval  to  set  up  50  such  clusters.  As  part  of  the scheme based on the Expression of Interest (EOI), a total of 10 proposals have been approved  under  Mission  Solar  Charkha  till  date  which  is  expected  to  benefit  about 13784 artisans/workers.  The States where Solar Charkha clusters are approved are as follows:

| State         |   Amount of subsidy (Rs. lakh) |   No. of Solar Charkha clusters |   No. of beneficiaries |
|---------------|--------------------------------|---------------------------------|------------------------|
| Chhattisgarh  |                         578.49 |                               1 |                   1200 |
| Gujarat       |                         405.45 |                               1 |                   1000 |
| Karnataka     |                        1920.49 |                               2 |                   4042 |
| Maharashtra   |                        1336.76 |                               2 |                   2742 |
| Odisha        |                         676.25 |                               1 |                   1400 |
| Rajasthan     |                         959.95 |                               1 |                   2000 |
| Uttar Pradesh |                         754.26 |                               2 |                   1400 |
| Total         |                        6631.65 |                              10 |                  13784 |

These solar charkhas are to be operated using solar power which is a renewable energy source. It will help in development of Green Economy as it is an environment friendly programme. It will also generate sustainable employment for the artisans.

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