On July 30, 2020, Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (M/o MSME) approved a programme under “Gramodyog Vikas Yojana” for the benefit of artisans involved in manufacturing of Agarbatti and to develop village industry.
- Initially four Pilot Projects will be started, including one in the North Eastern part of the country. Each targeted cluster of artisans will be supported with about 50 Automatic Agarbatti making machines and 10 Mixing machines.
- As a part of the programme, a total of 200 Automatic Agarbatti making machines and 40 Mixing machines will be provided to the artisans.
Key Points:
-The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), under the M/o MSME, will provide training, and assist artisans with Agarbatti manufacturing machines.
-KVIC will also tie up with Khadi institutions / Agarbatti manufacturers in the country, having a good track record, to provide work and raw material.
-The program will immediately generate a minimum of about 500 additional jobs and will reduce imports of Agarbatti.
Important decisions taken by Government regarding ‘Agarbatti’:
-Agarbatti item placed from Free trade to Restricted trade in the import policy.
-Import duty on agarbatti enhanced from 10% to 25% on ‘round bamboo sticks’ used for manufacturing of Agarbatti.
Recent Related News:
On May 12, 2020, Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) launched CHAMPIONS(Creation and Harmonious Application of Modern Processes for Increasing the Output and National Strength) portal(www.Champions.gov.in), a Technology-driven control room-cum-Management Information System. The system utilises modern Information and Communications Technology (ICT) tools.
About Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises:
Union Minister– Nitin Jairam Gadkari (Constituency- Nagpur, Maharashtra)
Minister of State (MoS)– Pratap Chandra Sarangi
About Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC):
Chairman– Vinai Kumar Saxena
Headquarter– Mumbai, Maharashtra
