Lok Sabha Question No. 49 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-20
Subject: Khadi Workers
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: Balak Nath

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 49 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2023

## KHADI WORKERS

## 49. SHRI BALAK NATH:

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

- (a) whether  the  various  demands  of  Khadi  and  Village  Industries  Commission  including restoring  exemptions  to  enhance  the  work  capacity  of  Khadi  industries  in  Rajasthan  are  being considered by the Government;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of khadi workers currently employed in Khadi industries in Rajasthan; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to increase funds for the welfare of Khadi workers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI BHANU PRATAP SINGH VERMA)

- (a) & (b): Ministry of MSME, through Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), has taken the following steps to enhance the work capacity of Khadi Industries in the country including Rajasthan:
- i. Modified  Market  Development  Assistance  (MMDA)  scheme  introduced  to  help  Khadi Institutions  (KIs)  to  reorient  their  activities  extending  adequate  emphasis  towards  increasing artisans' earnings as well as ensuring quality of Khadi to customers. MMDA for Cotton / Muslin /  Woollen & Polyvastra shall be calculated @ 35% on Prime Cost. In case of Silk Khadi, the quantum of MMDA will be @ 20% on Prime Cost. 35% of this assistance is given as incentive to  the  Khadi  Artisans,  14%  as  incentive  to  the  Karyakartas  and  51%  as  a  share  of  Khadi Institutions (KIs).
- ii. Workshed  Scheme  for  Khadi  Artisans:  Under  this  component,  financial  assistance  is provided to Khadi artisans to construct workshed. For construction of individual workshed, an assistance  upto  Rs  1,20,000/-  or  75%  of  the  cost  (90%  for  NER)  and  for  group  workshed (minimum 5 & maximum 15 artisans), an assistance upto Rs. 80,000/- per artisan or 75% of the cost (90% for NER), whichever is less, is 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.

Apart from the above, a  Khadi Knowledge Portal (KPP) has been created under Centre of Excellence  for  Khadi  (CoEK),  in  which  designs,  specifications  with  sketches  are  uploaded  for adoption  by  KIs.  Also,  Capacity  Building  workshops  have  already  been  conducted  by  CoEK  for Khadi Institutions at different locations.

KVIC  is  setting  up  Marino  Wool  Raw  Material  Bank  at  Bikaner,  Rajasthan  in  order  to supply  raw  material  needed  by  KIs  for  increased  production,  thereby  increasing  earnings  of  the Khadi artisans.

(c): A total of 30,519 Khadi workers is currently employed in Khadi Industries in the State of Rajasthan.

- (d): KVIC implements various schemes under the Khadi Vikas Yojana for improving the income of Khadi artisans which are as follows:
- i. 35% quantum  of  Modified  Marketing  Development  Assistance  (MMDA)  is  provided  to artisans  as  incentive  in  case  of  KIs  of  Cotton,  Woolen,  Polyvastra  and  30%  quantum  of MMDA is provided as incentive to KIs for Silk.
- ii. Financial assistance is also provided under Workshed Scheme for construction of individual as well as group workshed for smooth and fatigue free work environment.

Apart from the above, spinning wages of artisans have been increased from Rs. 7.50/-per hank to  Rs.10.00/-per hank and  weaving wages for Cotton Khadi, Woollen Khadi and Polyvastra have been increased by 10% w.e.f. 01.04.2023.

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