Lok Sabha Question No. 853 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-21
Subject: Production of Khadi in West Bengal
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: Locket Chatterjee

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 853 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.11.2019

## PRODUCTION OF KHADI IN WEST BENGAL

## 853. MS. LOCKET CHATTERJEE:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to increase the production of Khadi in West Bengal;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken in the matter; and
- (c) whether the aims and objectives of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) have been implemented and met in West Bengal and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): Yes  Sir.  Khadi  and  Village  Industries  Commission  (KVIC)  has  made  efforts  to enhance  production  of  Khadi  in  the  West  Bengal.  Based  on  the  past  performance  of  Khadi Institutions  in  West Bengal, the target of production has been enhanced every year by keeping in view the availability of working infrastructure and funds with the Khadi Institutions. Production by Khadi Institutions in West Bengal during last three years is as follows:

(Rs. in l akh)

| Year    |   Production of Khadi including Polyvastra and Solar Vastra |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2016-17 |                                                     19623.6 |
| 2017-18 |                                                     20658   |
| 2018-19 |                                                     24816.3 |

To enhance production of Khadi in West Bengal, KVIC implements the following schemes:

1. Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)
2. Solar Charkha Mission
3. Khadi VikasYojana (KVY), a component of Khadi and GramodyogVikasYojana (KGVY)
4. Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI)

Other steps taken by KVIC to increase the production and development of Khadi activities in the State of West Bengal is given in the Annexure .

- (c): Yes Sir. The main aims and objectives of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) of generating  employment  opportunities have  been met  out in  the  State  of  West  Bengal. Employment opportunities generated under Khadi and Village Industries (KVI) programme in West Bengal till 2018-19 areas follows:

Cumulative Employment under Khadi & Village Industries inWest Bengal

| Particulars                       |   Till 2018-19 |
|-----------------------------------|----------------|
| Employment under KhadiProgramme   |          32433 |
| Employment under V.I. Programme   |        1062000 |
| Total Employment under KVI Sector |        1094433 |

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (a)&(b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 853 for answer on 21.11.2019

Following steps have been taken by KVIC to  increase  the production and development of Khadi activities in the State of West Bengal:

- i) For  development  of  infrastructure  60  number  of  Khadi  Institutions  were  assisted  under Khadi Reform and Development Programme (KRDP) and during the current year additional 11 Khadi Institutions are going to implement KRDP which will increase Khadi Production in West Bengal.
2. ii) In  the  last  two  years,  33  Khadi  Institutions  have  been  registered  and  started  Khadi Programme.
3. iii) Conducted  awareness  camps  with  West  Bengal  KVIB  for  registration  of  new  Khadi Institutions.
4. iv) During the year 2018-19, KVIC has started a Khadi spinning training cum production centre at  Bali  Island,  which  is  situated  in  a  remote  isolated  island  of  Sundarbans  area  to  provide employment to the unemployed rural economically backward people mainly distress women and  others.  Presently  50  number  of  women  are  working  in  that  centre  and  their  average income more or less Rs. 150 per day. Earlier they had no regular source of income.
- v) To  provide  more  employment  opportunities  to  unemployed  economically  backward  rural people, it has been decided to set up a composite Khadi unit by reputed Khadi Institution of the State in the island.
6. vi) Skill Development: to impart training KVIC developed the network of 35 Departmental and Non-Departmental  Training  Centres.  Training  programmes  are  implemented  in  various disciplines  viz.  Khadi  Spinning  and  Weaving,  Stitching,  embroidery,  etc.  through  these training  centres  located  in  different  States.  In  West  Bengal  2321  number  of  candidates trained  under Skill  Development Programme and Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme training during the year 2018-19.