: Mumbai, 6^th March 2026

With an aim to effectively implement Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Developed India @ 2047’, ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, ‘Make in India’ and ‘Made for the World’ at the grassroots level, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India organised a large-scale machine and toolkit distribution programme at, Khambale, Nashik today. The Chief Guest of the programme, Chairman, KVIC, Shri Manoj Kumar, distributed 1,072 machines and toolkits to 600 trained artisans engaged in various village industry activities under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana (GVY). In addition, under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), margin money subsidy amounting to ₹42.61 crore was distributed online to 1,367 beneficiaries, generating employment for more than 15,000 people.

The equipment distributed during the programme included 600 bee boxes, 240 pottery wheels, 40 REI kits, 20 footwear manufacturing kits, 8 food processing sets, 4 village oil sets, 20 automatic agarbatti machines, 20 electrician toolkits, 20 plumbing toolkits and 100 other toolkits, which will help artisans convert traditional skills into productive and sustainable enterprises.

Addressing the gathering, Chairman, KVIC, Shri Manoj Kumar, recalling Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti celebrated according to the Hindu calendar, said that the life of Shivaji Maharaj remains a powerful source of inspiration for self-rule, self-respect and self-reliance. He said that the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Developed India 2047’ reflects the same spirit of self-reliance that Shivaji Maharaj embodied through his leadership and governance. He further stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Khadi and Village Industries have not only preserved the legacy and tradition of Mahatma Gandhi but have also emerged as a strong driver of rural economic revival, establishing themselves as an effective growth engine of the rural economy.

Shri Manoj Kumar informed that under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana, tool and equipment distribution has been continuously carried out across Maharashtra over the past five years through initiatives such as the Honey Mission, pottery, footwear manufacturing, incense sticks production, electrician and plumbing activities. During this period, 5,308 machines and toolkits have been distributed, benefiting 3,073 artisans and significantly enhancing production capacity and income-generating opportunities. He emphasised that the objective of the scheme goes beyond distribution of tools and focuses on long-term economic empowerment of artisans.

He further highlighted that more than 1,500 spinners, weavers and Khadi artisans are currently engaged through 32 Khadi institutions in Maharashtra, providing a strong foundation to the rural economy of the state. In addition, during the last five years (2021–22 to 2025–26), a total of 14,582 projects were established in Maharashtra under PMEGP, with margin money assistance of over ₹604 crore, generating employment for 1,16,656 people.

Representatives of Khadi institutions, beneficiaries of the Village Industries Development Scheme, local public representatives, and officers and employees of KVIC and the state office were present at the event.

PIB Mumbai | Edgar Coelho/ Priti Malandkar

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