The said scheme is administered by the Central Government, and since 1981 it has been implemented preferably through District Central Cooperative Banks. It is a condition that the beneficiary of the said scheme should belong to a scheduled caste or neo-Buddhist community. Under this scheme, a subsidy of 50 percent or a maximum of 10,000 rupees, whichever is less, is provided for various village industries.
Objective : To provide financial assistance for the business development of rural artisans in the rural sector. Artist for the purpose of employment or from the village instead of going to the city to get employment to develop.
1. Project Loan Limit :-
50000/- thousand rupees and max
2. Government subsidy :- 50 percent or a maximum of Rs.10,000/- whichever is less
3. Loan from Bank :- Amount Rs. 50000/-
4. Banks directed to receive financial assistance :- District Central Banks/ Nationalized Banks
5. Enforcement Nodal Office :- District Village Industries Officer
6. Beneficiary Eligibility :-
i) Must be a member of Balutedar Sanstha
ii) Minimum age18 years
iii) Must be rural artisan
iv) Beneficiary Artisans who will benefit in the said scheme are Scheduled Castes And neo-Buddhist artisans must be trained.
7. Form of finance to be taken from bank :-
i) Project cost 50000/- thousand
ii) Loan term Minimum 5 years
iii) Interest as per bank rules
Success Story :- Through this scheme, by giving financial support to the rural artisans for business growth, it has helped to raise the standard of living of the rural artisans in terms of increasing their financial income.
Challenges :- Rural artisans are selling products in a traditional way, and currently, in the mechanised age, the business of rural artisans is in a state of closure due to the use of modern methods and unsustainable materials.
Publicity :- Rural artisans are grassroots and cannot afford to promote their businesses in the current era, so businesses cannot grow.
Department of Social Justice and Special Assistance letter no. BGT-2022/Pro.No.70/Budget, dated September 16, 2022, states that the said scheme has been merged with Pradhan Mantri Scheduled Caste Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) and will cost Rs. 50,000/- or 50 percent of the value of the assets, whichever is less, but the beneficiaries whose annual income is not more than Rs. 2,50,000/- will be given priority.
