The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), operating under the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, organized a groundbreaking “Mega Distribution” program at its headquarters in Mumbai. This virtual event marked one of the largest and most ambitious initiatives in KVIC’s history, aiming to empower artisans, boost entrepreneurship, and propel India’s khadi and village industries toward self-reliance and global prominence.
The program distributed 16,377 pieces of equipment, machines, and toolkits to beneficiaries across all six geographical zones of India—North, South, East, West, Central, and Northeast. These tools, provided under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana scheme, covered a diverse range of industries, from leatherwork and pottery to agriculture and electrical services. Specific items distributed included 3,950 bee boxes, 7,067 electric pottery wheels, 1,350 leather product repair toolkits, 390 footwear manufacturing tools, 420 electrician kits, 300 plumber kits, 971 sewing machines, 278 handmade paper-making machines, and 349 automatic incense stick-making machines, among others. These distributions aim to directly enhance productivity and livelihood opportunities for artisans nationwide.
KVIC Chairman Manoj Kumar addressed the event, which was attended virtually by key government officials, including members of KVIC from various regions, senior officials from the Ministry of MSME, and thousands of artisans. In his remarks, Kumar called upon the beneficiaries and stakeholders to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Viksit Bharat Abhiyan’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ campaigns. He highlighted the role of self-reliance and local entrepreneurship as foundational elements of India’s development journey.
Aligned with this vision, KVIC announced the creation of 44 newly renovated Khadi Bhawans and 750 Khadi workshops, in addition to inaugurating 5,000 new units under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). These initiatives aim to modernize infrastructure, provide training facilities, and support small-scale industries in achieving greater market penetration.
Another highlight of the program was the disbursement of substantial financial support. Margin money subsidies amounting to $469 million were released under the PMEGP scheme, facilitating loans worth $1.4 billion for 14,456 new units nationwide. These efforts are projected to create 159,016 jobs across various sectors. In the financial year 2024-25 alone, a total of $217.5 million in margin subsidies was provided to 58,850 beneficiaries, leading to the generation of over 6.4 million jobs.
The Khadi Vikas Yojana continued to offer significant financial aid, with $21.5 million disbursed under the Modified Market Development Assistance program to 1,110 Khadi institutions. Additionally, $4 million was allocated to 1,153 institutions under the Interest Subsidy Eligibility Certificate program. On the day of the event, an additional $3.3 million in grants was distributed to benefit 3,817 artisans.
The welfare of artisans remains central to KVIC’s mission, and the commission announced a 20% increase in wages for Khadi artisans starting April 1, 2025. This change, which raises spinners’ earnings to $0.18 per hank of thread spun on traditional charkhas, represents a historic 275% increase in wages over the past 11 years under Modi’s leadership.
KVIC also highlighted its efforts to rejuvenate Khadi’s image as a modern and fashionable garment. Inspired by the Prime Minister’s call for ‘Khadi for Fashion,’ the commission organized a series of Khadi fashion shows in cities like Nagpur, Pune, Surat, Chennai, Jaipur, and Prayagraj. These events aimed to engage younger audiences, fostering a “New Khadi for New India” movement that redefines the fabric’s appeal while staying rooted in tradition.
The program celebrated several milestones, including the sale of Khadi products worth $1.2 million during the Prayagraj Mahakumbh event. Across the previous fiscal year, total production in the Khadi and Village Industries sector reached an impressive $10.8 billion, with sales exceeding $15.5 billion. Over the past decade, these initiatives have created 18.7 million jobs, including 1 million new jobs in the previous year alone.
Chairman Kumar emphasized the importance of “Vocal for Local” and urged stakeholders to support the “Make for World” campaign, reinforcing the Prime Minister’s vision of transforming local initiatives into global successes. He also expressed pride in the robust partnerships and networks developed through KVIC’s efforts to empower artisans, entrepreneurs, and small businesses.
The event was attended by lakhs of Khadi artisans, representatives of beneficiary schemes, and KVIC officials. This nationwide program underscored KVIC’s commitment to uplifting rural communities and promoting India’s heritage industries, ensuring that the benefits of growth and innovation are widely shared.
Through transformative programs like these, KVIC not only supports the economic aspirations of small-scale producers but also strengthens India’s position as a global leader in sustainable and inclusive development.
