| The board under the "traditional handicraft tourism development scheme" proposes to establish 'Khadi shilp grams' across the state. |
| "We plan to establish shilp grams in all the 70 districts across the state. It will be a common centre in form of a cluster, a proposal for which has already been sent to the state government for consideration," MT Hamid, public information officer and chief facilitator, UPKVIB told Business Standard. |
| The scheme, to be started as a pilot project this fiscal, will involve 25-30 villages engaged in a particular art form. Each gram will spread over an area of about 8-10 acres, thus providing the artisans the skill, training and the needed marketing support on the spot. |
| "The scheme will serve a dual purpose, to check the extinction of traditional handicraft industries on one hand and also provide employment to the rural youth on the other," Hamid added. |
| More than 500 jobs are expected to be generated once the scheme is implemented. To be undertaken as a five-year project, about 14 districts will be chosen every year. |
| The total initial investment will be to the tune of Rs 15 crore, as each cluster will involve an outlay of Rs 1.10 crore. |
| "An additional assistance of Rs 1 lakh will be provided under the Kanshiram Protsahan Sahayta Grant to each entrepreneur," informed Hamid. |
| The board will also arrange for funds through banks under the Mukhya Mantri Gramodyog Rojgar Yojna (MMGRY) and the Margin Money Scheme, especially designed for khadi and village industries. |
| "The clusters will mainly involve industries like zardozi work, pottery, chikankari, leather and patch work. The idea is to develop these as tourist spots, where the visitors can have a look at traditional arts of the state. This will further boost the sales," Hamid added. |
| The UPKVIB, established during 1967, provides training to rural poor and help them to set up village industries. |
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