Lok Sabha Question No. 118 (STARRED), answered on 2023-02-09
Subject: Use of Solar Charkha by Khadi Artisans
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: Jugal Kishore Sharma, Pradeep Kumar Singh

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *118 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2023

## USE OF SOLAR CHARKHA BY KHADI ARTISANS

*118. SHRI JUGAL KISHORE SHARMA: SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH:

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

- (a) the  efforts  made/being  made  by  the  Government  to  generate  livelihood  for  Khadi artisans and popularize Khadi globally;
- (b) whether the use of solar charkha would help to reduce the labour of artisans and they are  likely  to  get  better  wages  along  with  increase  in  production  of  Khadi  through  solar charkha;
- (c) if so, the efforts being made by the Government in this regard; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to provide subsidy on making Khadi through solar charkha and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI NARAYAN RANE)

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

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO THE PARTS (a) to (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *118 FOR ANSWER ON 09.02.2023

- (a): Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has initiated several measures to support the livelihood of Khadi artisans under components of Khadi Vikas Yojana (KVY) which includes the following:
- i. Modified Marketing Development Assistance (MMDA): Under MMDA, assistance in form of incentive on 35% of the prime cost of Khadi is given to Khadi workers and  institutions.  The  share  of  this  assistance  is  35%  as  incentive  to  the  Khadi Artisans,14%  as  incentive  to  the  Karyarkartas  and  51%  as  a  share  of  Khadi Institutions (KIs).
- ii. Workshed Scheme for Khadi Artisans: Under this component, financial assistance of  Rs.1,20,000/-  per  artisan  for  construction  of  individual  workshed  and  Rs. 80,000/-  per  artisan  for  construction  of  group  workshed  as  a  grant  is  being provided.
- iii. Strengthening  of  Infrastructure  of  Weak  Khadi  Institution  and  Assistance  for Marketing Infrastructure: This component provides financial support to the Weak Khadi  Institutions  with  assistance  of  Rs.  15  lakh  per  KI  to  regain  normalcy. Besides,  financial  assistance  of  Rs.  25  lakh  per  sales  outlet  is  also  provided  to KIs/Departmental Outlets for its renovation.
- iv. Artisan Welfare Fund Trust (AWFT): KIs collect 12% of Artisans' earning as their contribution and deposit the amount along with matching contribution of the KIs to the Trust for providing social security benefits to the Khadi artisans.

To popularize Khadi, following initiatives have been taken by KVIC:

- i. Under  Khadi  Reform  and  Development  Programme  (KRDP),  'Khadi  Mark'  has been  launched  to  promote  Khadi  as  a  brand  that  connotes  social,  cultural  and environmental values, besides guaranteeing the genuineness of khadi products.
- ii. Centre of Excellence for Khadi has also been set up on Hub and Spoke model with National  Institute  of  Fashion  Technology  (NIFT)  New  Delhi  as  Hub  and  NIFT, Ahmedabad,  Bengaluru,  Kolkata  and  Shillong  -  for  establishing  benchmarked design processes for global standards, creating contemporary fabrics and products for  domestic  and  international  market.  In  addition,  focus  is  also  on  carrying  out branding and publicity of new Khadi, organizing National and International Khadi fashion  shows  and  exhibitions  to  increase  its  global  reach  and  creating  visual merchandising and packaging for Khadi products.
3. (b): Usage of solar power-driven charkha can increase production of Solar Vastra.
4. (c): 4  pilot  projects  have  been  sanctioned  for  production  of  Solar  Vastra  with  project outlay of Rs. 20.42 cr. per project with a capital subsidy of Rs. 9.60 cr. per project.
5. (d): The cloth production out of yarn produced through solar charkha is kept under the category  of  Village  Industry.  Subsidy  is  extended  on  capital  investment  for  setting  up  of solar  charkha  cluster  in  the  form  of  35%  subsidy  on  the  cost  of  machinery  and  100% subsidy  on  the  cost  of  work  shed,  solar  grid  and  capacity  building,  up  to  the  prescribed limit.

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