With a view to aiding and supporting the khadi and village industries of the state, the Uttar Pradesh Khadi and Village Industries Board (UPKVIB) has come up with fresh proposals to be implemented in the next fiscal for rural industrialisation and employment generation. | |
| The board under the "traditional handicraft tourism development scheme" proposes to establish 'Khadi shilp grams' across the state. |
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| "We plan to establish shilp grams in all the 70 districts across the state. It will be a common centre in form of a cluster, a proposal for which has already been sent to the state government for consideration," MT Hamid, public information officer and chief facilitator, UPKVIB told Business Standard. |
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| The scheme, to be started as a pilot project this fiscal, will involve 25-30 villages engaged in a particular art form. Each gram will spread over an area of about 8-10 acres, thus providing the artisans the skill, training and the needed marketing support on the spot. |
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| "The scheme will serve a dual purpose, to check the extinction of traditional handicraft industries on one hand and also provide employment to the rural youth on the other," Hamid added. |
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| More than 500 jobs are expected to be generated once the scheme is implemented. To be undertaken as a five-year project, about 14 districts will be chosen every year. |
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| The total initial investment will be to the tune of Rs 15 crore, as each cluster will involve an outlay of Rs 1.10 crore. |
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| "An additional assistance of Rs 1 lakh will be provided under the Kanshiram Protsahan Sahayta Grant to each entrepreneur," informed Hamid. |
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| The board will also arrange for funds through banks under the Mukhya Mantri Gramodyog Rojgar Yojna (MMGRY) and the Margin Money Scheme, especially designed for khadi and village industries. |
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| "The clusters will mainly involve industries like zardozi work, pottery, chikankari, leather and patch work. The idea is to develop these as tourist spots, where the visitors can have a look at traditional arts of the state. This will further boost the sales," Hamid added. |
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| The UPKVIB, established during 1967, provides training to rural poor and help them to set up village industries. |
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