MINISTER OF MICRO,SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES(SHRI MAHABIR PRASAD)
(a)to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House
STATEMENT REFERRED TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 350 FOR ANSWER ON
23.12.2008 REGARDING WELFARE SCHEME FOR ARTISANS
(a)&(b): Bamboo and cane products of North Eastern Region are popular in the country and abroad.
Government of India has accorded Export Promotion Council (EPC) status to Khadi and Village
Industries Commission (KVIC), a statutory organization set up under administrative control of
Ministry of Micro,Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and so far 4 institutions in North
Eastern Region have registered under KVIC-EPC for export of cane and bamboo products.As per
information supplied by the Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), no formal assessment
on demand for cane and bamboo products for North Eastern Region in international markets has been
carried out.However, as per the data available with the Export Promotion Council for handicrafts,
the products of cane and bamboo have potential for export.
(c) &(d): Welfare of artisans has been aimed at by providing better support to Micro, Small and
Medium Enterprises(MSME) and Khadi and Village Industries(KVI) Sector through provision of
infrastructure and implements for such units throughout the country including those in
North-Eastern Region.The Government through KVIC has been implementing schemes like Janashree Bima
Yojana (JBY),Interest Subsidy Eligibility Certification (ISEC) scheme,Development,Design
Intervention and Packaging (PRODIP) Scheme and Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional
Industries (SFURTI) to develop around 100 traditional clusters from khadi,village industry and
coir sectors.Assistance is also provided to khadi and village industry institutions/units by KVIC
to participate in exhibitions at the national and sub-national levels to assist marketing of khadi
products.
Besides, the Government in the Ministry of MSME through KVIC has introduced three new schemes
w.e.f. 2008-09, namely
(i) `Prime Minister`s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)` a Central
Sector credit linked subsidy Scheme for setting up micro enterprises in rural and urban areas
(ii) Workshed Scheme for Khadi Artisans for providing assistance for construction of workshed for
khadi artisans for better work environment,
(iii) Scheme for Enhancing Productivity &
Competitiveness of Khadi Industries and Artisans to make khadi industry competitive with more
market driven and profitable production.Another scheme,namely,Strengthening of Infrastructure of
existing Weak Khadi Institutions and Assistance for Marketing Infrastructure`for renovation of
selected 30 khadi sales outlets and providing assistance for strengthening of infrastructure of
existing 100 weak khadi institutions has also been approved.
Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) under Ministry of Textiles also implements various schemes
for development and promotion of handicrafts artisans including artisans belonging to weaker
sections of the society, in the country including those in North Eastern Region such as Ambedkar
Hastshilp Vikas Yojana,Marketing Support Scheme, Human Resource Development Scheme,Design &
Technology Upgradation scheme, Research and Development scheme and Handicraft Artisans
Comprehensive Welfare Scheme.Government of India, Ministry of Textiles has also set up Bamboo &
Cane Development Institute (BCDI) at Agartala to provide platform for human resource development
and research to realise the potential for innovations that can hasten the economic and social
development of rural communities and individual craftsmen, particularly those in the North Eastern
Region.
