(a) whether there is any proposal to set up a National Institute of Rural Industrialization with the support of KVIC;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the time by which it is proposed to start functioning; and
(d) the extent to which it is expected to give a boost to rural industrialization and sustainable development?
THE MINISTER OF AGRO AND RURAL INDUSTRIES (SHRI KARIYA MUNDA)
(a) to (d): The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with IIT, Delhi in April 2001, to upgrade the Jamnalal Bajaj Central Research Institute, Wardha. The outlay for the Project is Rs. 8.35 crores and the objective is to create a mechanism to provide technological inputs for modernising the KVI sector. The project period is 3 years. The project is expected to accelerate the process of Rural Industrialization and to make the KVI sector commercially viable.