Question : ARTISAN WELFARE FUND TRUSTS

(a) the number of Artisan Welfare Fund Trusts set up by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission in the country including Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu,State-wise;

(b) whether the Union Government has launched any scheme for Artisan Welfare Fund Trusts (AWFTs) in the country;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) the funds allocated under this scheme during the last three years to the States including Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu;

(e) whether the Union Government has constituted any supervisory body to ensure proper utilization of the funds allocated and to supervise the functioning of the AWFTs; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES(SHRI VIRBHADRA SINGH )

(a) to (c) Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has set up 21 Artisan Welfare Fund Trusts (AWFTs) in the country, including the states of Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu. The details are given at Annex.I.Khadi Institutions registered with the KVIC/ Khadi and Village Industries Boards (KVIBs) of States / Union Territories are required to create AWFTs with a view to extending security and other help in the hour of need to the artisans. The membership is mandatory for all khadi and polyvastra institutions affiliated to KVIC and state KVI Boards.The main functions of the AWFTs include providing financial security required by the artisans on occasions such as daughter’s marriage, medical treatment, education of children,construction of house/purchase of property etc. Amount accruing to AWF is kept in fixed deposits in nationalized Banks. Khadi institutions are required to contribute 12 percent of wages of artisans to AWF whose benefit is extended to all artisans except those who are salaried employees of khadi institutions.

Separate accounts in respect of each artisan showing the subscriptions made by him / her together with the contribution made by the institution are maintained. Each artisan, subscribing to this fund is issued a pass book by the khadi institution. In the case of death of an artisan, the entire amount to his/her credit in AWFTs is paid to his/her legal heirs or nominees.

(d) Under this scheme, the total establishment grant remitted to the states by KVIC including Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu, during the last three years is as follows:

Year	Establishment grant remitted	under AWFTs (Rs. crore)
2007-08	40.43
2008-09	49.78
2009-10	163.98