New Delhi, Aug 1 (KNN) Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has approved a programme for the benefit of artisans involved in manufacturing of Agarbatti and to develop village industry under ‘Gramodyog Vikas Yojana’.

Initially four pilot projects will be started, including one in the North Eastern part of the country.

''This decision will help to boost the indigenous production of ‘Agarbatti’ and will pave the way to generate rural employment,'' said the Ministry in a statement.

''This will also start the process of mitigating the gap between the indigenous ‘production and demand’ and will reduce import of ‘Agarbatti’ in the country,'' it added.

Each targeted cluster of artisans will be supported with about 50 automatic agarbatti making machines and 10 mixing machines. Accordingly, a total of 200 automatic agarbatti making machines and 40 mixing machines will be provided to the artisans.

Under this Mission, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), one of the statutory organizations, working under MSME Ministry will provide training, and assist artisans working in this area, with Agarbatti manufacturing machines.

KVIC will tie up with Khadi institutions and Agarbatti manufacturers in the country, having a good track record, to provide work and raw material to Agarbatti making artisans.

"The programme will act as a catalyst in reviving the agarbatti manufacturing in the villages and small towns and will immediately generate a minimum of about 500 additional jobs," the ministry said.

The programme aims to enhance the production of ‘Agarbatti’ in the country and create sustainable employment for the traditional Artisans, by providing them regular employment and increase in their wages. This will give a boost to the domestic Agarbatti Industry in the country and will reduce imports of Agarbatti.

''This decision will help to boost the indigenous production of ‘Agarbatti’ and will pave the way to generate rural employment,'' it added.

The Centre earlier took two major decisions by placing the agarbatti item from "free" trade to "restricted" trade in the import policy and enhancing the import duty from 10 per cent to 25 per cent on 'round bamboo sticks' used for manufacturing of agarbatti for the benefit of the domestic industry.