New Delhi, Apr 2 (KNN) Under National Handloom Development Program (NHDP), Union Ministry of Textiles has approved 51 handloom projects out of 56 from Chattisgarh.

The projects approved have been sanctioned with a projected cost of Rs 16.68 crore.

According to government official reports, during 2016-17, total of 940 weavers had been benefited under the Village Industries Department’s Integrated Handloom Development Program in the state.

With a view to support and develop handloom weavers, this scheme was initiated by the government under which economically weak weavers of rural areas are divide into groups of 20 and are provided weaving training of 4 months to make them more dependable and employable.

In order to meet the market demands for making designs, weavers are provided 2 months of skill improvement training.

Further to lend support to those who don’t have their own looms, government provided them financial aid of Rs 25,000 for loom and Rs 3000 for other necessary equipments.

Also, weavers cooperative societies are provided financial aid of Rs 20 lakh each for infrastructure development.

Under Prime Minister Employment Generation Program (PMEGP) sponsored by Central Khadi and Village Industries, a total of 8500 persons were provided employment in Chhattisgarh during the last eight years.

During the financial year 2015-16 the PMEGP had provided funds of Rs 17.56 crore to 830 cottage industry units for starting their works and further these units have provided employment to 948 persons.

According to the information provided by officials, under this scheme, for setting up of cottage industry, projects costing upto Rs  25 lakh is sanctioned.

And also for beneficiaries of general category margin money of Rs 25 per cent is provided by the Board, while for beneficiaries belonging to the female category, ST, SC and OBC class, 35 per cent margin money is provided as grant.

The loan availed from the bank has to be returned over a period of seven years, officials said.

The project in Chhattisgarh is being run by Chhattisgarh Khadi and Gramodhyog Board and mainly Poha Mill, mini rice mill, crusher plant, lack production, bamboo and cane production center, pottery business, pulses mill, flour mill and many more production unit and others are financed under the program.

The Chhattisgarh Khadi and Village Industries Board aim is to foster capable youth through its various training programs from rural areas with complete knowledge of availability of raw material, marketing and financial management to run their units  and to provide them easy access to bank loans.

Further, Chhattisgarh government has also established an Apparel Training & Designing Centre each in Bilaspur,  Raipur, Bhilai and Rajnandgaon, officials stated.