Rs 84 cr for replacement of charkhas, looms: Prasad

New Delhi, July 16 (UNI) The Government will provide Rs 84 crore as assistance to 200 institutions for replacement of charkhas and looms in a bid to make the Khadi industry more competitive and profitable, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Mahabir Prasad said today.

Of these, 45 institutions will be managed by persons belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, Mr Prasad said.

''The scheme will make the Khadi Industry more market driven and provide higher wages to artisans,'' he said at the third meeting of the National Khadi and Village Industries Board (NKVIB).

He said the new scheme would provide assistance towards renovation, computerisation, marketing infrastructure, quality improvement of products and better packaging of Khadi products.

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