KVIC Chairman has distributed bee boxes, pickle-making machines, and automatic agarbatti machines to beneficiaries in Assam with the emphasis on self-reliance

Mr. Manoj Kumar, the Chairman of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME), launched three distinct distribution initiatives in Assam on May 8, 2023, in an effort to carry out Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi's vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. The beneficiaries of several projects received bee boxes, pickle-making equipment, and mechanised agarbatti machines. 

In Kumarikata village of Tamulpur, 500 bee boxes were distributed to 50 beekeepers, 40 pickle-making machines, and 20 automatic agarbatti machines were handed over to the beneficiaries at KVIC Complex in Guwahati. Under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana, a pilot project for the footwear sector was also launched at Six-Mile Guwahati.

Mr. Manoj Kumar, while addressing the gathering said that the mantra of the self-reliant India on which Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi is working is- ‘work for every hand’, and ‘a fair price for the work’. Following this, the KVIC is putting plans into effect in the villages and cities across the nation. He added that starting in 2017, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission has been executing the Honey Mission scheme at the national level in response to the call for the Sweet Revolution made by Prime Minister. In accordance with this programme, 829 beekeepers in the state of Assam received training before receiving 8,290 bee boxes and bee colonies. Furthermore, he urged the beekeepers to create world-class honey so that Assam's "local honey" would be of the highest quality. He further said in addition to increasing the production of agriculture, beekeeping is also increasing the income of the farmers.

On this occasion, the Chairman additionally gave information about the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme, which is being executed at the national level by KVIC for the self-employment of women and young people and provides grants of up to US$ 61,000 (Rs. 50 lakh) for the creation of small businesses.  The Government of India is providing a grant of up to 35% of the project's cost.

Khadi has now become global from local and as a result of this, in FY22, the turnover of Khadi and Village Industries products crossed the figure of US$ 14.04 billion (Rs. 115,000 crore). 

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.