Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 10: Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), through Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) J&K has disbursed subsidy of Rs 50.85 crore to 2,320 units set up in Jammu and Kashmir under Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) Scheme during the current financial year (2019-20).
Addressing a media conference here today, Chairperson, KVIC Vinai Kumar Saxsena, said that the units set up under PMEGP has provided employment to 16,240 persons in J&K.
He also informed about the Khadi promotion campaign being launched India wide on December 17, by Union Minister of MSME and Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari. He informed that a target to sell 5 crore khadi napkins costing Rs 5 has been set under the promotional campaign.
The Chairperson informed that a tailoring center of Yusuf Meherally Center, Jammu Branch, in Guidance with KVIC, has started functioning at Dhoke Wazirian, post Kandoli Nagarota. He said that 50 Paddel operated Sewing Machines have been made available for production center, while 70 women have been trained in cutting, tailoring, ironing, folding and packing. He added that the production of napkins has been started.
“The women stitching the napkins are from militancy affected families of J&K, living in the villages of district Jammu”, the Chairperson added and appealed the people of Jammu and Kashmir to be part of the campaign by purchasing Khadi products.
Listing other achievements of the Commission, the Chairperson, KVIC, said that the Commission has also distributed 1000 bee boxes in a single day to 100 bee keepers of Kupwara, providing employment opportunities to 200 persons and 178 electric potter wheels to potters under Kumhar Shashaktikaran Programme, generating employment to 712 persons.
Reaching out to traditional workmen, the KVIC has distributed tool kits to 60 cobblers under ‘Leather -artisans empowerment’ campaign on October 10, 2019, the chairperson added.
In Khadi sector, J&K recorded production of Rs. 30.25 cr and sales of Rs. 32.75 cr through the local Khadi Institutions, providing employment to 15,257 persons, he said and added that the State Office KVIC has also enlisted 10 New Khadi Institutions thereby generating 300 additional employment in Khadi sector.
He further informed that one of the heritage products of J&K, Pashmina Shawl, is being produced by 11 major institutions, which are mostly working in South Kashmir.
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