Manoj Kumar Emphasizes on Empowering Khadi Workers for a Stronger Nation

*Distribution of 100 Electric Charkhas, 100 Footwear Repairing Toolkits, and 230 Machinery and Toolkits*

*Transfer of Over 100 Crore Subsidy to 1977 Beneficiaries in the North and Central Zones under PMEGP*

*Udaipur, February 10:* Manoj Kumar, the Chairman of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), stated that a self-reliant and empowered nation is possible when workers in Khadi and Village Industries become self-reliant. He commended the rapid strides made by the Modi government in this direction over the past decade. The 'Guarantee of the Government of Modi' has given global branding to Khadi products.

Chairman Manoj Kumar addressed the gathering as the chief guest during the Khadi Dialogue and Benefit Distribution event organized by KVIC at the Community Building in Chitrakoot Nagar on Friday. The event was conducted under the guidance of the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, and witnessed the participation of KVIC North Zone Member Nagendra Raghuvanshi, Udaipur City MLA Tarachand Jain, Rural MLA Phool Singh Meena, Padma Shri Dr. Shyamsundar Paliwal, the pioneer of the Peepal-Plan Tree Model, former MLA Dharmanarayan Joshi, and KVIC North Zone's Deputy Chief Executive Officers J.P. Gupta, Sunita Bhandari, among others.

In the beginning, the program was inaugurated by KVIC Rajasthan Director Dr. Rahul Mishra, Assistant Director D.C. Singhal, Sudarshankumar, Sunil Saxena, and Uttam Barman, who welcomed the guests.

Chairman Manoj Kumar emphasized that the guidance and efforts of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi are providing modern training and toolkits to artisans. Under the Gramodyog Development Scheme, KVIC has distributed more than 27,000 electric charkhas to Kumhar brothers and sisters, resulting in a significant change in the lives of over 1 lakh potters. Additionally, more than 6000 toolkits and machinery have been distributed under this scheme, and under the Honey Mission Scheme, over 20,000 beneficiaries have received distribution of honey bee-boxes and bee colonies.

He further informed that under the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Program (PMEGP), an amount exceeding 100 crores has been transferred online to the accounts of 1977 beneficiaries in the North and Central zones. These units have created 21,747 new jobs in both zones, benefiting 2805 individuals in Rajasthan alone.

The Chairman revealed that Rajasthan currently has 158 operational Khadi institutions. In the financial year 2022-23, these institutions recorded production worth approximately 149.50 crores and sales worth around 243.50 crores. Through these institutions, more than 30,000 Khadi artisans have been employed, providing significant employment in the region. The Rajasthan Khadi Schemes have created over 30,215 new units under the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Program, resulting in the generation of 2.52 lakh new employments.

Chairman Manoj Kumar concluded by stating that the distribution of margin money subsidy in Rajasthan under the PMEGP is now over 871.24 crores. He distributed subsidy certificates to the beneficiaries during the program.

In addition to the subsidy distribution, KVIC under the Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana provided electric charkhas to 100 potters in Chittorgarh and Bhilwara, leather toolkits to 100 artisans in Udaipur, Westwood Craft Toolkits to 20 artisans in Bundi and Baran, and leather footwear machines to 10 artisans in Tonk.