Khadi scheme to be e-monitored

The PMEGP,launched in 2009,is one of the biggest schemes introduced by the KVIC for providing employment. It primarily aims to bring together widely dispersed traditional artisans and provide them self-employment opportunities. It also targets continuous and sustainable employment to a large segment of traditional and prospective artisans and unemployed youth,so as to help arrest migration of rural youth to urban areas.

In the first phase — between 2009-2011 — applications were to be invited for the scheme in various districts and screened,after which loans will now be disbursed. The Uttar Pradesh office of KVIC has sanctioned support for 10,000 units under the scheme.

“This is one of the biggest self-employment scheme introduced by us and we want complete transparency. There are reports of corruption and irregularities in various schemes of KVIC and hence,we want to ensure that this scheme doesn’t face similar problems. So we have initiated this e-tracking scheme,” said R S Pandey,Director,KVIC (UP).

“A software has already been developed by the KVIC headquarters. The software will be managed by experts who will provide us support in data collection and uploading,” added Pandey.

The KVIC will take the services of a private agency for the purpose. Under the scheme,a software would be developed and in the first phase,details of all the applications would be uploaded. The agency will collect all the details of applications from the KVIC,State Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIC),associate Banks and District Industries Centre and upload them on the website. “Each of the applicants will have a unique number,through which he will be able to track the progress of his application at various stages from all executing agencies,” said Pandey.

In the second phase,the project will monitor the progress of the units which have been provided support under the scheme through photographs,digital data,progress reports,output reports and sales details. “Since a private agency will be doing it,chances of corruption will be quite low. Our KVIC officials will also monitor the project,and above all,the beneficiaries themselves can track the details. In case any irregularity is found,anyone can report it to our office,” said Pandey.

The state KVIC has

already invited applications from agencies for the

purpose.