(a) whether the Government has received any proposal from Andhra Pradesh Government regarding development of cottage industry;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the action taken by the Government on these proposals; and
(d) the total amount released for the development of cottage industry during each of the last three years?
MINISTER FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
(SHRI MAHABIR PRASAD)
(a)to(d): No, Sir. However, Government in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
has been implementing the Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP) through the Khadi
and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), for promotion and development of village
industries, including cottage industries. Under this Programme, entrepreneurs can establish
village/cottage industries, by availing of margin money assistance from the KVIC and loans
from any public sector scheduled commercial banks, selected regional rural banks and
co-operative banks, etc., for projects with a maximum cost of Rs.25 lakh. In addition for
promotion of village/cottage industries, the Government provides assistance for improvement
of designs, quality and better packaging of products under Product Development, Design
Intervention and Packaging (PRODIP) Scheme, Rural Industries Service Centre (RISC) Scheme
for setting up Common Facility Centres (CFCs) to provide infrastructural support and services
to the units, to participate in exhibitions at the international, national, and
sub-national levels. A new scheme called Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional
Industries (SFURTI) has also been launched which envisages assistance for setting up of
common facility centres, quality improvement, training and capacity building, development
of new products, improved packaging, new design, market promotion, etc.
The total amount released by the KVIC to the State of Andhra Pradesh for development of
village industries (including cottage industry) during last three years is as under:
(Rs. lakh) Year Fund released
2004-05 3019.60 2005-06 4174.51 2006-07 3951.20