Question : TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES UNDER SFURTI

(a) whether the Government has taken any steps to encourage young entrepreneurs to set up traditional industries;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the funds allocation and utilized under Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) including Bundelkhand Region during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(d) the details of the achievements made and employment generated under SFURTI during the said period;

(e) whether the Government has taken steps to strengthen/modernise the traditional industries and to improve the conditions of workers engaged therein; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

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

(a)&(b): Government in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSME) has been implementing a credit-linked subsidy-based programme named the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) since 2008-09 to assist first-generation entrepreneurs to set up micro -enterprises in the non-farm sector. Under PMEGP, 1.41 lakh units have been assisted with margin money subsidy of Rs.2593.78 crore till 30 November 2011.

(c)&(d): Government has also undertaken development of 105 clusters of traditional industries like khadi, village industries and coir through Khadi and Village Industries Commission(KVIC) and Coir Board since 2005-06 under the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI). State/UTs-wise funds provided by KVIC and Coir Board to the clusters under SFURTI, including in Bundelkhand Region, during the last three years and the current year is given at Annex I. About 53,000 artisans have been benefited through SFURTI clusters so far. Separate data in respect of Bundelkhand Region is not centrally maintained.

(e)&(f): Steps taken to strengthen traditional industries like khadi, village industries and coir include schemes such as ‘Strengthening Infrastructure of Existing Weak Khadi Institutions and Assistance for Marketing Infrastructure’, ‘Workshed Scheme for Khadi Artisans’ and ‘Khadi Karigar Janashree Bima Yojana’ besides a comprehensive ‘Khadi Reform and Development Programme’ implemented by KVIC as also the scheme of ‘Rejuvenation, Modernization and Technological Upgradation of Coir Industry’ implemented by Coir Board.