Guwahati, May 9 (KNN) The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) chairman Manoj Kumar on Monday handed over Bee-boxes, pickle making machines and automatic agarbatti machines to the beneficiaries at KVIC Complex in Guwahati.

A total of 500 bee-boxes, 40 pickle making machines and 20 automatic agarbatti machines were handed over by the KVIC chairman.

A pilot project related to footwear industry was also inaugurated in Six-Mile Guwahati under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana.

Addressing the occasion, Kumar said that on the call of Sweet Revolution by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission is running the Honey Mission scheme at the national level from the year 2017. 

Under this scheme, 8290 bee-boxes and bee-colonies have been distributed after training to 829 beekeepers in the state of Assam, according to an official statement.

Kumar encouraged the beekeepers to produce world class honey so that the 'local honey' of Assam gets 'global' recognition. 

He further said in addition to increasing the production of agriculture, beekeeping is also increasing the income of the farmers. 

On the occasion, the KVIC chairman also briefed on the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Program being implemented at the national level by KVIC for the self-employment of youth and women, in which up to 50 lakh rupees are given for the establishment of small industries. 

A grant of up to a maximum of 35 per cent of the project cost is being given by the Government of India.

Key persons present at the event included Jolen Daimary, MLA, Tamulpur and Siddharth Bhattacharya, MLA, Guwahati (East), officers and employees of Government of Assam and KVIC.  (KNN Bureau)