(a) the total quantity of foodgrains processed in cottage industries in the country during
each of the last three years, State and Union Territory-wise; and
(b) the steps being taken by the Government to train the entrepreneurs engaged in the
cottage industry sector and to modernise the enterprises functioning in this sector?
MINISTER FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
(SHRI MAHABIR PRASAD)
(a) The Government, in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, through Khadi
and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), has been implementing a credit linked subsidy
Scheme called Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP) for assisting the entrepreneurs
in setting up of village industry units, including cottage industries engaged in processing
of food grains, in rural areas and small towns with population upto 20,000. However, data
relating to quantity of food grains processed in cottage industries in the country are not
maintained centrally.
(b) KVIC organizes various training programmes like managerial courses, artisan courses,
skill development courses, specialized courses for prospective entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship
development programmes, entrepreneurship awareness programmes etc., to provide training to
entrepreneurs through its Departmental and non-Departmental Training Centres, spread throughout
the country.
Besides REGP, the following schemes/programmes are implemented by the KVIC for
promotion/modernisation of the village industries, including cottage industries.
(i) Rural Industries Service Centres (RISC) Scheme for setting up common facility centres
to provide infrastructural support and services to such industries.
(ii) Product Development, Design Intervention and Packaging (PRODIP) Programme for improving
the design and packaging of village industry products.
(iii) Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) for the development
of around 100 traditional clusters in khadi, village industries and coir sectors which
envisages need-based assistance for replacement of production equipment, setting up of
common facility centres (CFC), product development, quality improvement, improved marketing,
training and capacity building, etc.
(iv) Rural Industries Consultancy Service Cells (RICS) to provide guidance to the
entrepreneurs in preparing bankable projects.
(v) Assistance to village industry units to participate in exhibitions at the
international, national and sub-national levels for improving marketing of the products.