New Delhi, Mar 24 (KNN) In the current financial year as of March 16, 2023 zero artisans have benefitted from the Workshed Scheme for Khadi Artisans in Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Maharashtra, as per the information shared by Minister of State for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The financial assistance provided under the scheme for the artisans in the three states stands at zero, said the report.

In the previous fiscal year, 30 artisans from Tamil Nadu, 50 from Odisha and zero artisans from Maharashtra were benefitted.

Financial assistance of Rs 40.50 lakh and Rs 30 lakh was provided to artisans of Tamil Nadu and Odisha, respectively under the scheme in FY22.

Further the total sales in Khadi sector has increased from Rs 4211.26 crore in 2019-20 to Rs 5051.72 crore in 2021-22.

In FY22 the total sales in Khadi sector stood at Rs 5051.72 crore with Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu as five major contributing states.

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 per cent from April 1, 2023. (KNN Bureau)