Making co-operative entrepreneurship attractive

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has been implementing a cluster-based scheme named Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) through Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) and the Coir Board. Societies registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860 and Co-operative Societies are eligible to work as implementing agencies in the scheme. Under SFURTI, khadi, village industries and coir clusters have been taken up for development by providing them with improved equipments, common facilities centres, business development services, training, capacity building and design and marketing support, etc. 101 clusters (29 Khadi, 47 Village Industries and 25 Coir clusters) have been developed under this scheme. SFURTI Scheme has been revamped in XII plan and 71 clusters with an outlay of Rs. 149.44 crore are proposed to be developed in the Ist phase.