(a): whether MNCs have started marketing in the rural areas through e-chaupals;
(b): if so, the total approximate sales during the last year;
(c): whether this poses any challenge to the village industries; and
(d): if so, the plans of the Government to protect the village and rural industries?
MINISTER OF SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES & AGRO AND RURAL INDUSTRIES ( SHRI MAHABIR PRASAD )
(a): According to available information, e-chaupal is a project of
the ITC Limited, an Indian company, which offers farmers the
following facilities :
(i) information dissemination through the internet, e.g., best
farming practices, weather conditions, prices of various crops,
etc.;
(ii) buying farmers` produce at ITC buying centres approved under
the respective States` Agriculture Produce Market Committee Rules; and
(iii) sale of quality farm inputs and other consumer goods to farmers.
(b): The total sales during 2004 through the e-chaupals are
estimated at Rs. 12 crore.
(c): The data on the sale of village industries products (Rs.
10988.17 crore approximately during 2003-04) of units promoted
with Government assistance through the Khadi and Village
Industries Commission (KVIC), State Khadi and Village Industries
Boards (KVIBs) and institutions registered with the KVIC and
KVIBs, do not indicate that these products face marketing
challenge on account of marketing of farm products, etc., through
e-chaupals.
(d): The Government assists village industry (VI) units to
participate in exhibitions, brand promotion, quality assurance and
technology upgradation and also in modernization of sales outlets,
etc., of the registered VI institutions. In addition, a
Confederation for Promotion of Khadi and Village Industries has
been set up in 2003 to strengthen the marketing network of Khadi
and village industry products. The Product Development Design
Intervention and Packaging (PRODIP) Scheme of the KVIC has been
started during 2003 in order to assist design and packaging
improvement of khadi and village industry products.