Srinagar: In a significant move aimed at empowering rural artisans in the Jammu and Kashmir division, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, distributed 411 machinery and toolkits under the Khadi Gramodyog Vikas Yojana.
The event, held at SKICC in Srinagar district, witnessed the gracious presence of KVIC Member (North Zone) Nagendra Raghuvanshi.
During the distribution program, Manoj Kumar, Chairman of KVIC, spearheaded the allocation of resources tailored to uplift various artisanal trades. Notable provisions included the distribution of 300 Bee Boxes to 30 Beekeepers of Jammu through Video Conference under the Honey Mission Scheme, 100 Electric Wheels to potters of Kashmir under the Kumbhar Empowerment Scheme, and 10 Hydra Pulper Paper Mache machines to artisans. Additionally, 10 artisans were furnished with a set of fruit and vegetable Machines under the ABFPI scheme, while 200 trainees undergoing training at PMTC Pampore received training certificates.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Manoj Kumar highlighted the transformative impact of the Modi Government’s steadfast support for Khadi and Village Industries. He emphasized KVIC’s role in connecting skilled artisans with the national development narrative through initiatives like ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Viksit Bharat’, and ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat Abhiyan’. Under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana, KVIC has distributed Electric Wheels to over 27,000 potters, significantly impacting the lives of more than 1 lakh artisans. Furthermore, KVIC has distributed over 6,000 toolkits and machinery and more than 2 lakh Honey Bee Boxes and Bee Colonies under various schemes, fostering economic prosperity in rural areas.
Chairman KVIC underscored the employment generation potential of Khadi and Village Industries, with over 10,000 Khadi artisans currently employed through 110 Khadi Institutions in the Jammu State Office. Notably, 80% of these artisans are women. Through initiatives like the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Program (PMEGP), 54,252 new units have been established in Jammu and Kashmir, providing employment opportunities to over 4,34,016 people across 20 districts.
Manoj Kumar emphasized the pivotal role of Khadi in realizing the vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, with sales of Khadi products witnessing a fourfold increase in the last decade. He reiterated KVIC’s commitment to promoting village industries like Beekeeping, Pottery, Leatherwork, and Incense Sticks Making in rural and border areas. Notably, from 2018-19 to 2022-23, Jammu and Kashmir distributed about 8,950 Bee Boxes and Bee-Colonies, Electric Wheels to 600 potters, and related machinery and toolkits to 40 workers involved in Agarbatti Manufacturing.
The distribution program witnessed the participation of representatives from Khadi institutions, Khadi Workers and Artisans, beneficiaries of Gramodyog Vikas Yojana, banking officials, and employees of KVIC, underscoring a collective commitment towards fostering inclusive growth and prosperity in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
