Hyderabad, June 19 (KNN) Khadi & Village Industries Commission’s (KVIC) State office, Telangana organized an awareness and toolkits distribution program under Gramodyog Vikas Yojana on Monday at state office located in Hyderabad.

On this occasion Chief Guest KVIC Chairman,  Manoj Kumar distributed free of cost tools and implements to nearly 300 trained artisans of Telangana. 

Artisans from different industries viz. Paper Plate making, Paper Bags making, Agarbatti making, Tamarind processing, Leather artisans & tribal Bee keepers participated in this event. 

Addressing the gathering, Kumar said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is showcasing itself as a strong, capable, and self-reliant nation to the world. 

He stressed that for the first time in the history of Independent India, the turnover of Khadi and Village Industries Commission products have crossed Rs.1.34 lakh crores figure. 

In the last 9 financial years, there has been an unprecedented growth of 332% in the sale of indigenous Khadi products made by artisans in rural areas, he said. 

He asked artisans to utilise the machinery and toolkits being provided to create as many employment opportunities as possible and contribute to the construction of a self-reliant India.

Kumar also said that KVIC is executing several key programs under the 'Gram Vikas Yojana' for the welfare of the deprived artisans. He said that this scheme intended to uplift the artisans by providing skill training and free tools and machines. 

Informing that nearly 1500 artisans from Telangana have been benefited by this scheme in the last three years, he exhorted the unemployed youth to become self- employed by utilizing various Schemes provided by  KVIC. 

During the event, he also released an amount of Rs.100 crores of the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Program (PMEGP) Margin Money(subsidy) to Telangana.  

Through this nearly 3000 entrepreneurs will be directly benefited and  indirectly creating  employment to many. 

Also, a readymade garments cluster of Rs 2 crore was sanctioned in Wanaparthi district by KVIC under the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI )Scheme. 

This cluster has been approved in Wanaparthi district, where 150 artisans will be benefited. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed on this occasion, where GMR Varalakshmi foundation has entered into an agreement with KVIC for imparting skill training for the year 2023-24.

KVIC Zonal Deputy CEO R.S. Pandey, Telangana State Director Dr. Manoj Lanka, KVIC State Office officials, NI-MSME Director General Dr S. Glory Swarupa also participated in the program.  (KNN Bureau)