Up to 150 trained Khadi professionals including 100 female practitioners in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are associated with various Khadi employment activities and the Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
KVIC Chairman Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena distributed circular woodworking machines to 50 artists in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh as well as 50 agarbatti machines and 50 cucumber machines to Guwahati artisans in Assam.
20-day training by KVIC
It is the first time that KVIC has embarked on a program to train local youth wood in Arunachal Pradesh aimed at creating employment opportunities for the local youth of Tawang and revitalizing traditional woodworking in the province. These craftsmen, all members of BPL families, were given a full 20-day training by KVIC and upon completion of their training, equipment was provided to these professionals.
On Saturday, Shri Saxena again distributed 50 agarbatti machines to 50 artisans under the Prime Ministerial Employment Program (PMEGP) to establish their own Agarbatti production units. This is also aimed at strengthening the Agarbatti local industry, which is a major founder of operations in Assam. KVIC also partnered with a business partner, a successful Agarbatti producer from Assam who will supply raw materials and reclaim all Agarbatti produced by these 50 women entrepreneurs by paying for labor costs.
Mission Aatmanirbhar Bharat
KVIC Chairman Shri Saxena said Khadi’s activities in the North East were in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” for empowering the youth. “KVIC has placed a strong emphasis on job creation and the strengthening of traditional handicrafts in the North East. KVIC’s support for the transformation of the timber, Agarbatti and agribusiness and food industries such as pickle will empower local youth and women and create employment opportunities in their departments, ”he said.
Significantly, in recent times, KVIC opened Eri Erik Training and Production Centers in Arunachal Pradesh and revitalized the Monpa Handmade paper industry in Tawang. Also, more than 430 units of bamboo products including Agabatti and the production of round bamboo sticks have been established in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh by KVIC over the past few years.
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