Agartala: The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) chairman, Manoj Kumar, has emphasised the need for better implementation of its programmes in hilly and border areas.

Speaking at a function in Agartala recently, Kumar said KVIC is making “every effort to promote the KVI programs initiated for the development of the sector, so that Khadi and Village Industries activities can be implemented better at the hilly and border areas than at the ground level.”

The senior official was in town for the inauguration of West Tripura Bamboo Mat Cluster and a KVIC building. Other programmes for the northeastern region were also launched.

In 2021-22, Khadi sales were at Rs 15.5 crore in the North East against Rs 13-crore production. The employment generation was to the tune of 5,827.

The chairman said the prime minister “gave priority to revive Khadi and he is taking ‘Khadi’ to new heights on the motto of ‘Khadi for Nation, Khadi for Fashion and Khadi for Transformation’”.

The Centre has increased the maximum project cost from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 50 lakh for the margin money subsidy to be given under Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme.

KVIC has also launched the first-ever flagship programme ‘Honey Mission’ in the country with the objective of increasing honey production, protecting the environment and providing sustainable employment to the rural masses — mostly farmers, women, tribals and unemployed youth.

“Similarly, ‘Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana’ programme has been introduced and another scheme has also been started to plant bamboo saplings on unused, barren land, which is a source of raw material for making incense sticks, furniture and artistic handicraft items,” he said.

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