Question : ASSISTANCE TO KHADI WEAVERS

(a) the number of weavers engaged in khadi industry in the country presently, State/UT- wise;

(b) the criteria and methodology for extending financial assistance to khadi weavers along with the number of khadi weavers provided assistance under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) during each of the last three years, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether the Government proposes to supply khadi products particularly dresses to students under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and to its employees;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to facilitate the use of E-charkha/E-handloom in khadi production and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI KALRAJ MISHRA)

(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 473 FOR ANSWER ON 27.04.2015

(a): State-wise number of weavers engaged in khadi industry in the country through institutions registered with Khadi and Village Industries Commission(KVIC)/State Khadi and Village Industries Boards are given at Annex I.

(b): In addition to the regular earning of spinners and weavers, 25% of 20% of the production value is given as Market Development Assistance (MDA) to spinners and weavers as incentive/bonus under Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme of the Government through Khadi and Village Industries Commission(KVIC). Under PMEGP, financial assistance is provided only for the setting up of micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector. Khadi activities were not covered under the purview of Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), in the last three years as this was part of the negative list. However, Khadi activities have been allowed under PMEGP by modifying the negative list of activities.

(c)& (d): No specific proposal to supply khadi products particularly dresses to students under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and to its employees has been received so far. However, khadi products are being supplied through KVIC to Railways, Defence, Paramilitary forces and various Central & State Government departments under Directorate General of Supplies & Disposals (DGS&D) rate contract.

Government in the Ministry of MSME has also issued a Gazette Notification No. 503(dated 26.03.2012) that the Central Government Ministries, Departments and Public Sector Undertakings shall procure minimum 20% of their annual value of goods or services from Micro & Small Enterprises registered with District Industry Centre (DIC) or Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC) or Khadi & Village Industries Board (KVIB) or Coir Board or National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) or Directorate of Handicrafts & Handlooms (DCHH).

(e): Khadi and Village Industries Commission(KVIC) has developed e-charkha, which has a dynamo and portable storage battery. While plying charkha the battery is energized to supply power of 4 watt which is used to light a LED lamp, transistor and charging of cell-phone. So far 1464 E-charkhas have been supplied to the khadi institutions. However, because of increased workload in spinning due to the attached dynamo, the demand for e-Charkha from Khadi Institutions and artisans has been mixed. E-handloom has not been developed so far.