‘Workshed Scheme for Khadi Artisans’ to provide a better work place to Khadi artisans

The aims and objectives of ‘Workshed Scheme for Khadi Artisans’ is to provide a better work place to Khadi artisans to carry out their spinning and weaving activities efficiently and to provide storage space for raw material, implements, accessories, semi-finished, finished goods, etc.

Eligibility/Modalities for Workshed Scheme for Khadi Artisans are as follows:-

1. The artisans working with Khadi Institutions (KIs), affiliated to Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)/State Khadi and Village Industries Boards (KVIBs) including their departmental activities, shall be eligible for the scheme. The artisans covered under Artisan Welfare Fund Trust (AWFT), Modified Marketing Development Assistance (MMDA) incentive, those who have worked at least 100 days in a year are eligible. Preference shall be given to BPL category.
2. The title of the land should be in the name of the artisan and or his /her spouse.

or

Any ancestral/ family property for which consent is obtained legally can be considered for construction of workshed.

or

The land allotted by the State Government/Panchayat, etc. to the artisans shall also qualify for construction of workshed.

1. The group workshed may be constructed on the land owned by the KIs and it must be leased out to the artisans for a period of minimum 10 years.
2. Artisans who have availed similar benefit, previously from KVIC/Central/State Govt., will not be eligible. However, those worksheds which have been damaged/ destroyed due to natural calamities but have not received any compensation, shall be considered for the scheme after obtaining desired certificate from the concern local authority.
3. If there is increase in the construction cost, the beneficiary needs to bear the additional cost by withdrawing from the available AWF credit. In case of BPL category, if there is requirement of additional funds, the sponsoring KI shall arrange without insisting from the artisans.

            Ministry of MSME, through Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), provides financial assistance to artisans to construct workshed under ‘Workshed Scheme for Khadi Artisans’.  For construction of individual workshed, an assistance upto Rs 1,20,000/- or 75% of the cost (90% for NER) and for group workshed (minimum 5 & maximum 15 artisans), an assistance up to Rs. 80,000/- per artisan or 75% of the cost (90% for NER), whichever is less, is provided.

The number of Khadi artisans benefitted, and financial assistance provided under Workshed scheme for Khadi artisans in Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Maharashtra during last five years and current year is placed at Annexure.

The total sales in Khadi Sector have increased from Rs. 4211.26 cr. in 2019-20 to Rs. 5051.72 cr. in 2021-22. The year-wise details of five major States that have contributed to the sales of Khadi during last three years are as follows:

            (Rs. in crore)

  *decrease in sales due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Ministry of MSME, through KVIC, is implementing various schemes under the Khadi Vikas Yojana for improving the income of Khadi artisans which are as follows:

1. 35% quantum of Modified Marketing Development Assistance (MMDA) is provided to artisans as incentive in case of KIs of Cotton, Woolen, Polyvastra and 30% quantum of MMDA is provided as incentive to KIs for silk.
2. Financial assistance is also provided under Workshed Scheme for construction of individual as well as group workshed for smooth and fatigue free work environment.

Apart from the above, spinning wages of artisans will increase from Rs. 7.50/-per hank to Rs.10.00/-per hank and weaving wages for Cotton Khadi, Woollen Khadi and Polyvastra will increase by 10%, w.e.f. 01.04.2023.

Annexure

The number of Khadi artisans benefitted and financial assistance provided under Workshed Scheme for Khadi Artisans in Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Maharashtra during last five years and current year.

(Financial Assistance provided in Rs. in lakh)