A senior commission functionary has stated that the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) will establish 16 more ‘Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries’ centres in the rustic areas, comprising three centres in Maharashtra,.

J S Mishra, KVIC CEO, said in Maharashtra, the centres would be established at Nanded in the Marathwada, Sindhudurg in Konkan and Bhadravati in the Vidarbha. This will raise the total number of KVIC centres to 95.

“Traditional industries will be revived under the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI), under which more than 80,000 artisans will benefit directly,” Mr. Mishra added.

Mr. Mishra also said that KVIC will supply all the raw materials, kits, processing plants, and will also help to promote their finished products.

He further added that a sum of Rs 85 lakh will be used up primarily on these centres.

The Nanded centre will speciate in Khadi products including clothes and garments, whereas pottery units will be established in Vidarbha area. The food processing units will be set up in Sindhudurg, the region famous for the ‘hapus’ mangoes.

As fruits like cashew nuts, jackfruits, mangoes grow plentifully in the region, approximately 15,000 artisans and craftsmen will earn their livelihood from these small towns.

The KVIC will act as a nodal group, whereas local artificers and crafters will be chosen at the district and village level by the district collector.