In India, there are many remote areas where potter communities are located. To empower those communities Khadi and Village Industries Commission came up with a plan. It is called Kumhar Shashaktikaran Yojana (KSY). It was launched in 2018 to make potters self-dependent(ATMA NIRBHAR).

In 2020, Amit Shah distributed 100 electric pottery wheels through a video conference from Delhi. It was provided to the selected artisans in Gujarat under the Scheme. Moreover, it was accomplished with the joint effort of KSY and the Village Industries Commission.

What is Khadi and Village Industries Commission?

Khadi and Village Industries Commission is a legal body in India. In April 1957 the body was formed by the GOI under the 1956 Act of Khadi and Village Commission. However, this commission is a top institution under Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

The KVIC aims to:

• Plan
• Refine
• Ease
• Manage, and,
• Help in the development of Khadi and Village industries.

These objectives are for rural areas development in association with other agencies.

What are the objectives of the Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojna?

• Provide training for skill development to pottery artisans’ Self Help Groups. It will be on focused products like garden pots, kullads, decorator products, etc.
• Establish pilot projects on focused products as per region.
• Improve pottery production and reduce the production of cost.
• Under the PMEGP scheme, encourage the potters to set up their successful units.
• Develop new and small electric wheels for pottery.
• To take the journey of pottery industries from Pottery to Crockery.
• To produce raw materials and innovative new products for global scale pottery.

What are the benefits of the scheme?

The Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana benefits the potters in many ways. These are:

• Proper distribution of advanced equipment to the potters like electric Chaak.
• To provide proper equipment training to the potters.
• Removal of dull work in pottery making process.
• Increase the income of many potters.
• The scheme gives a direct linkage to the market.
• The GVY provides development facilities to potters for making pots in all weather conditions.
• The project helps potters to take permission in getting clay. They can get clay from different locations & ponds.
• The potters get visibility through exhibitions of KVIC.

Who are the target receivers under the scheme?

The Yojana should reach out to the potters who are located in:

• Maharashtra
• Uttar Pradesh
• West Bengal
• Madhya Pradesh
• Rajasthan
• J&K
• Assam
• Gujarat
• Tamil Nadu
• Odisha
• Haryana
• Bihar
• Telangana

What are the outcomes of the scheme?

Due to the supply of the latest technology, the potters get the following benefits:

• Less consumption of electricity.
• Better health.
• More work production within a few hours.
• Less noise with smooth and higher speed change.

What are the eligibility criteria under the Yojana?

• All the communities of potters who face difficulty to produce and sell pottery items. They can avail this scheme.
• The Self Help Groups (SHGs) are eligible for this scheme.
• The applicant must have the following documents:
  1. Aadhaar Card
  2. Voter ID
  3. Ration Card
  4. Recent photographs

What are the other initiatives provided to the Potters?

The MSME Industries have declared to expand and double the support to potters. This contains:

To motivate successful classic potters to set up their branches under the PMEGP yojana.

The Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme is a project of credit-link allowance.

It promotes the set up of micro-enterprises for self-employment.

To set up groups in Red clay pottery and Terracotta (a type of fired clay) pottery. These groups will add value with innovative new products. It will build efficiency to make crockery/ tile under the SFURTI scheme.

The Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries aims to build common industries for more benefits and competition. This will be through artisans and traditional industries’ association into groups.