KVIC Chairman Empowers Assam's Entrepreneurs with Bee-Boxes, Pickle Making & Agarbatti Machines

The beneficiaries receive bee boxes, pickle-making machines, and mechanized agarbatti machines through the schemes' distribution. As a part of the program, 50 beekeepers in Tamulpur's Kumarikata village received 500 bee boxes, while recipients at the KVIC Complex in Guwahati were given 40 pickle-making devices and 20 automatic agarbatti machines.

Additionally, a pilot project in the footwear sector was launched at Six-Mile Guwahati under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana. This clarion plea to assist the farmer community in Bodoland, Assam through Honey Mission was made last year in the same month by the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, during his public address at Tamulpur.

In his address at the Tamulpur conference, the Chairman stated that the theme of self-reliance on which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working is "work for every hand and a fair price for the work." Following this, the KVIC is implementing initiatives in the country's villages and towns. 

He went on to say that, in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for a Sweet Revolution, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission has been implementing the Honey Mission scheme at the national level since 2017.  This scheme has supplied 8290 bee boxes and bee colonies to 829 beekeepers in Assam after training.  Kumar urged beekeepers to create world-class honey so that Assam's 'local honey' can get 'global' recognition. He went on to say that, in addition to enhancing agricultural production, beekeeping increases farmers' revenue. 

Aside from that, elephants are being kept out of human dwellings and farmers' fields by installing bee boxes in settlements near the forest, which has resulted in fewer human attacks and crop damage caused by elephants. The Chairman further stated that the Khadi and Village Industries Commission is conducting one such attempt under Project RE-HAB in the villages of Mornoi, Dahikata, Rajapara, and Kadamtala in the Goalpara district of Assam.

In a programme held at the KVIC premises in Guwahati, the Chairman gave pickle-producing machines to 40 recipients and automatic agarbatti machines to 20 beneficiaries. 

On this occasion, he also provided an update on the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme, which KVIC is implementing at the national level for the self-employment of youth and women, and in which up to 50 lakh rupees are awarded for the construction of small industries. The Government of India is providing a grant of up to 35% of the project cost.

The Chairman stated that the Prime Minister's strong intentions have given the Khadi industry a fresh lease on life since 2014. Khadi has progressed from a regional to a worldwide phenomenon.  As a result, the turnover of Khadi and Village Industries items will exceed 1,15,000 crores in the fiscal year 2021-22. 

This occurred for the first-time following independence. Manoj Kumar stated that to enhance the economic position of Khadi artists while also increasing Khadi sales, the commission has decided to raise the salary of all Khadi artisans by 35% beginning April 1, 2023, which is a historic step in and of itself. 

He said that the pay of Khadi artists has increased by more than 150 percent since 2014.  Jolen Daimary, MLA, Tamulpur, and Siddharth Bhattacharya, MLA, Guwahati (East), as well as officers and employees from the Government of Assam and KVIC, were also present at the event.

(Source-PIB)