New Delhi, June 18: The Government of India has announced a substantial subsidy of ₹504.68 crore for 22,259 new projects aimed at rural artisans and micro-enterprises under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). This announcement was made by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), which operates under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
According to a statement released by the ministry, banks have approved loans amounting to approximately ₹1,485 crore for these projects, which are expected to create employment for around 244,849 individuals.
The funds were distributed during the ‘Khadi Employment Festival’ held in Siwani, Bhiwani district of Haryana. The event was presided over by KVIC Chairman Manoj Goel and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.
During the occasion, 3,645 modern machines and toolkits were virtually distributed to 972 artisans from seven states and union territories, including Haryana, New Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, and Tripura.
KVIC Chairman Manoj Goel highlighted the remarkable achievements of the khadi and village industries sector. The total production in this sector has surged to approximately ₹1.25 lakh crore, while business has reached a record level of ₹1.87 lakh crore.
He noted that this sector has provided employment to 20.4 million people across the country, attributing this success to the collective efforts of millions of artisans, weavers, rural entrepreneurs, and khadi institutions.
Goel announced an ambitious target of ₹2.51 lakh crore in business for the khadi and village industries sector. He also mentioned that over the past 12 years, more than 1.08 million new units have been established under the PMEGP scheme, with the government providing ₹29,623 crore in margin money subsidies, resulting in employment for approximately 9.795 million individuals.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini remarked that khadi symbolizes indigenous craftsmanship and has represented the labor, dignity, and self-respect of millions of Indians since the independence movement.
He added that around 58,796 artisans are employed through 96 active khadi and village industry institutions in Haryana. Additionally, the village industry development scheme has provided employment to over 127,000 individuals in the state.
The Chief Minister emphasized that it is a matter of pride that 80% of the artisans connected with the khadi sector are women, showcasing a new revolution in women’s empowerment.
He stated, “We are developing a comprehensive system that will enable excellent products created by self-help groups and artisans to reach both domestic and international markets. This will involve the use of local sales centers as well as e-commerce platforms.”
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