Mumbai, 28 March 2025

 

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), under the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India, successfully organized its largest-ever ‘Mega Distribution’ program on March 28, 2025, from its headquarters in Mumbai. The event, which was conducted virtually, marked a major step towards the realization of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the empowerment of artisans, entrepreneurs, and beneficiaries across India.

Speaking at the event Chairman, KVIC Shri Manoj Kumar informed that in order to recognise the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and to provide employment to the youth, Khadi and Village Industries Commission has organized the most comprehensive and massive toolkit distribution program in its history under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana Scheme. KVIC Chairman Shri Manoj Kumar also emphasized the importance of the ‘Vocal for Local’ and ‘Make for World’ mantras, reiterating that these guiding principles would help elevate Khadi products in the global market.  

The program witnessed the disbursement of Rs. 469 crore margin money subsidy to 14,456 new units under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), which is expected to generate 159,016 new jobs nationwide. This marks a significant boost to employment in the Khadi and Village Industries sector, contributing to the creation of thousands of new job opportunities for youth and artisans. Additionally, KVIC inaugurated 5000 new PMEGP units and 44 renovated Khadi Bhavans across the country, as well as 750 new Khadi workshops, benefiting thousands of artisans directly. More than 5 lakh Khadi artisans and entrepreneurs were directly benefited through this comprehensive initiative, which included the distribution of 16,377 equipment, machines, and toolkits across the nation under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana and Khadi Vikas Yojana schemes.

In the financial year 2024-2025, KVIC continued to support Khadi institutions by releasing Rs. 215 crore under the Modified Market Development Assistance (MMDA), benefiting 1,110 Khadi institutions and 1,46,246 artisans. Furthermore, Rs. 40 crore was disbursed through the ISEC program to 1,153 Khadi institutions, ensuring broader support for the Khadi sector. On this occasion, an additional Rs. 32.73 crore MMDA grant was released to 3817 Khadi artisans to strengthen their businesses and improve productivity.

One of the key announcements during the event was the 20% increase in the wages of Khadi artisans, set to take effect from April 1, 2025. This wage hike is part of a broader initiative by the government to uplift the livelihoods of Khadi artisans, with a 275% increase in wages over the last 11 years. The program highlighted the Modi government’s continued commitment to the welfare of Khadi artisans, with an emphasis on their role in driving India’s economic growth.

The event was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Shri Nagendra Raghuvanshi (North Zone Member, KVIC), Shri Manoj Kumar Singh (Eastern Zone Member, KVIC), Shri Vipul Goyal (Joint Secretary, MSME), Ms. Simi Chaudhary (Economic Advisor, MSME), and senior officials from KVIC, all of whom participated in the event through virtual conferencing. The program saw participation from thousands of Khadi artisans, entrepreneurs, and beneficiaries across India, all of whom were connected virtually, making this one of the largest online gatherings in support of Khadi and Village Industries.

 

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PIB Mumbai | EC/ DR

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