A total of 940 weavers have been benefited under the Village Industries Department’s Integrated Handloom Development Programme in the State during 2016-17, officials informed.
Rural Industry Department Officials informed that this scheme was started for development of handloom weavers of the State, under which financially weak weavers of rural areas are divided into groups of 20 and are provided weaving training of four months so as to make them more employable.
For making designs as per the market demands, weavers are provided two-months of skill improvement training. Weavers who do not have their own looms are provided ` 25,000 for loom and `3000 for other necessary equipment. Moreover, Weavers cooperative societies are provided financial aid of `20 lakh each for infrastructure development.
A total of 8,500 persons were provided employment under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) in Chhattisgarh during the past eight years, officials stated.
According to Chhattisgarh Khadi and Village Industries Board, the PMEGP during the financial year 2015-16 as on December 2015 had provided fund of `17.56 crore to 830 cottage industry units for commencing their works.
In turn, these units have provided employment to 948 persons.The PMEGP is a programme sponsored by Central Khadi and Village Industries Commission.
Under this scheme, for setting up of cottage industry, projects costing upto `25 lakh is sanctioned. For beneficiaries of general category margin money of 25 per cent is provided by the Board, while for beneficiaries belonging to the female category, ST, SC and OBC class, 35 per cent margin money is provided as grant, officers said.
The loan availed from the bank has to be returned over a period of seven years, they said.
Mainly Poha Mill, mini rice mill, crusher plant, lack production, bamboo and cane production center, pottery business, pulses mill, flour mill, soap industry, incense sticks, candle industry, carpenter works, ironsmith, hosiery, production of utensils from brass-copper-brass, aluminum utensil, iron furniture production unit and others are financed under the programme.
As many as 119 cottage industry units were established in Chhattisgarh involving an estimated cost of `1.78 crore under Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) during 2015-16, officials stated. The project in Chhattisgarh is being run by Chhattisgarh Khadi and Gramodhyog Board. Notably, Chhattisgarh had 7,586 persons involved in manufacture of Khadi products as on March 31, 2015, officials stated.