(a) the details of the steps being taken to promote rural artisans, craftsmen and weavers;
(b) whether there is any proposal to set up commercial centres to promote them,
particularly those belonging to SC/ST community; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SURYAKANTA PATIL)
(a) to (c) The Ministry of Rural Development is implementing the Swarnjayanti Gram
Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) which is a holistic self employment programme for
organisation of rural Below Poverty Line (BPL) persons into Self Help Groups (SHGs),
to carry out their training and capacity-building, planning of activity clusters, provision of
credit, technology, infrastructure and marketing support for establishing micro
enterprises, with a cluster based approach. Rural population living below poverty line
who are artisans, craftsmen and weavers can also obtain assistance under this scheme.