New Delhi, Dec 12 (KNN) The targets for the year 2018-19 for assistance under PMEGP have been increased by more than 50% due to increased budget allocation for PMEGP, the Parliament was informed.

In a reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Giriraj Singh said budgetary allocation for PMEGP, was increased to Rs.1800.64 crore for 2018-19 as against Rs.1024.49 crore during the year 2017-18.

The targeted number of units to be set up during 2018-19 is 66,700 as against the target of 50,784 in 2017-18.

He said as many as 5,02,085 beneficiaries and projects have been assisted under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) in 2018-19 (as on 30.11.2018) since its inception in 2008-09 and Margin Money of Rs. 1312.40 crore has been disbursed during 2017-18, as against the allocated target under the Budget Estimates of Rs.1004.49 crore, he added. During 2018-19, (as on 30.11.2018), 265,124 applications have been received under PMEGP.

Karnataka tops the list with 30,951 applications closely followed by Maharashtra with 27,365 applications. Uttar Pradesh (18,858), Tamil Nadu (16,996), Assam (15,981), Haryana (14,011), Jammu & Kashmir (13,349), Bihar (12,823), Telangana (11,315), Odisha (10,611) and West Bengal (10,010) are the other states with higher no. of applications for assistance under PMEGP, said the Minister.

PMEGP is a flagship credit-linked subsidy programme of Government of India being implemented by the Ministry of MSME. The Scheme is aimed at generating self-employment opportunities through establishment of micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector by helping traditional artisans and unemployed youth in rural as well as urban areas.