Manoj also announced a margin money subsidy of Rs. 100.63 crores to 3083 PMEGP beneficiaries, as well as a loan of Rs. 296.19 crores for PMEGP projects, which will create new job opportunities for approximately 25,000 people.
Speaking on the occasion, KVIC Chairman Manoj Kumar stated that the 'Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme' (PMEGP) is the major government flagship scheme implemented by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission.
He stated that more than 8 lakh projects have been approved under the PMEGP scheme so far, with more than 68 lakh people being provided with employment opportunities across the country through the disbursement of a 'margin money subsidy' of more than Rs 21000 crore. He reiterated the motto of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which is to "Become a job provider rather than a job seeker."
He stated that KVIC has been implementing various employment-oriented schemes in every nook and corner of the country so that young people looking for work can establish their own businesses. Kumar stated that following the Prime Minister's call for a "Sweet-Revolution" in the country, KVIC launched the Honey Mission with the goal of creating new job opportunities, increasing beekeeper income, and increasing farmer crop yield. He stated that under this Scheme, 17,570 beekeepers have been trained and 1.75 lakh "bee boxes" with bee colonies have been distributed.
According to the Chairman, under the Kumhar Sashaktikarn Yojana for the 'Potter Empowerment Scheme,' KVC distributed electric potter wheels to 24,410 potters. In addition, machines for making incense sticks were distributed to 1560 incense artisans in order to improve their skills and increase product quality and income. Speaking about the upgrading and development of the Khadi sector since 2014, he stated that the Prime Minister's resolution has revived this sector.
Khadi-Village Industry is reaching new heights as a result of his consistent efforts and tireless hard work. As a result, the Khadi Village Industry's sales figure surpassed 1,15,000 crores in the previous fiscal year, a first since independence, he added. Kumar stated that the KVIC has decided to fulfill the Prime Minister's dedicated vision of improving the economic condition of Khadi Artisans by paying them higher wages to Khadi Artisans.
It was recently decided to raise wages by nearly 35% all at once, which is a historic step in and of itself. He claimed that since the Modi government took office in 2014, KVIC has increased artisans' wages by nearly 150%. The Khadi & Village Industries Commission has made the following achievements in its programmes over the last few years: Khadi-Village Industries produced approximately Rs 84,290 crore and sold approximately Rs 1,15,415 crore, employing thousands of people.
The one-day sale of KVIC's flagship store in Connaught Place, New Delhi, on October 2, 2022, Gandhi Jayanti, surpassed Rs. 1.34 crore, setting a new record. Similarly, the Khadi Pavilion IITF, 2022 sold for a record Rs 12.6 crore. This year's MaghMela, organized by KVIC in Prayagraj, set a new record of Rs 5.83 crores in sales, a 53% increase . During the same fiscal year, the "Khadi Fest" in Mumbai set a new record of 3 crore in sales.
