Village industry units being encouraged: Prasad

New Delhi, Mar 10 (UNI) The Government is encouraging entrepreneurs in setting up village industry (VI) units, including the traditional leaf-cup/plate making units, in rural areas and small towns.

Stating this, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Mahabir Prasad said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today that during 2006-07, margin money of Rs 1847.73 lakh was provided for various village industry units under the Forest based industry group assisted during the year, generating 28,000 additional employment opportunities in the country.

This was being done by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission under the Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP) for assisting the entrepreneurs in establishing village industry units, including the traditional leaf-cup/plate making units, in rural areas and small towns with population upto 20,000 by margin money assistance from KVIC and loans from public sector scheduled commercial banks, selected regional rural banks and cooperative banks for projects with a maximum cost of Rs 25 lakh.

UNI SD PK AS1617