Micro units to be revived in Maoist-hit areas

BHUBANESWAR: Replicating the Assam model, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has decided to extend special employment generation provisions to extremist-hit districts of Odisha under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). Jainandu, Chairman of Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC) which is the nodal agency of PMEGP, said on  Wednesday  a decision for special budgetary allocation  in this regard was taken last month. With 14 districts in the State being Maoist-affected, assistance will be provided to generate employment for the  youths in these areas by establishing micro enterprises. Speaking at a State-level workshop on PMEGP here, Jainandu said even as the implementation of the scheme has not been  satisfactory in the State with many micro enterprise units lying unused, there is scope for improvement. “Like in trouble-torn Assam, special provisions will be made for drawing more youths into the fold of PMEGP. We are aiming to cover one lakh more youths from the State under the scheme in the next one year,” he said. Separate work plan under PMEGP has been  prepared for the Maoist-affected areas  which will be implemented in the next  financial year, Jainandu added. In the 2010-11 financial year, as many as 25,842 youths were provided employment under PMEGP in the State against the target of 31,780. The scheme was launched in 2008 by merging the then PMRY and REGP schemes with higher  subsidy. It is one of the most important credit-linked schemes of Ministry of MSME. As far as the khadi industry is concerned, the KVIC chairman said better market networking facilities for weavers associated with the industry will be given priority. “We have suggested opening khadi emporiums in major districts,” he said. The rebate system was stopped last year, Jainandu said, adding that the KVIC has introduced Marketing Development  Assistance (MDA) scheme for the weavers.  Subsidy will be given directly to the production units and 25 per cent of the profit they earn would go to the weavers. “This 25 per cent profit will be deposited in their bank accounts,” Jainandu said.Special measures are being taken for financial stability of khadi weavers in the State like provision of housing assistance and education of their children.