Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Empowerment 2026

This scheme, run by the Assam Directorate of Horticulture and Food Processing, offers public training in preserving Read More... fruits and vegetables, especially for women, to promote self-employment and home-scale production. Read less

Details

Ever wondered how to make delicious jams, pickles, or sauces that last longer? The Community Canning & Training on Fruit Preservation scheme in Assam is here to help! This initiative, managed by the office of the Deputy Director of Agriculture (Fruit Preservation), aims to teach people, particularly women, the art of preserving seasonal fruits and vegetables using locally available produce.

What Is This Scheme?

The scheme operates through 21 Community Canning and Training Centers spread across 19 districts in Assam. These centers, led by experienced officers, provide hands-on training and facilities for preparing various preserved items like jams, jellies, pickles, squashes, sauces, and chutneys. They also offer training for individuals looking to start their own small-scale fruit and vegetable processing businesses.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

This scheme is designed to empower individuals, especially housewives and women, by teaching them valuable skills in food preservation. It also aims to train aspiring entrepreneurs who wish to set up small cottage industries related to fruit and vegetable processing. Various women's groups, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and NGOs can also benefit through organized training programs.

Why This Scheme Is Important

The Community Canning & Training Centers play a crucial role in promoting self-reliance and economic independence. By teaching preservation techniques, the scheme helps reduce food wastage, allows for consumption of seasonal produce throughout the year, and encourages the creation of value-added products. The training for self-employment can lead to new business opportunities and income generation for the participants.

Objective

This scheme, run by the Assam Directorate of Horticulture and Food Processing, offers public training in preserving fruits and vegetables, especially for women, to promote self-employment and home-scale production.

Benefits

Benefits

Rs. 50 thousand will be provided as seed money to each individual under the renewed Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Empowerment (SVAYEM) Yojana.

While the groups with five members (Rs 50,000 per head) would be entitled to Rs 2.5 lakh, groups with 10 members would be entitled to Rs 5 lakh and so on with the maximum limit for members being 20.

The total budget of the scheme is Rs. 1000 crore which will be given entirely from government funding.

The beneficiaries would include all members of self-help groups, joint liability groups, and other such groups and federations that have organized themselves for entrepreneurial projects.

Quantum and nature of financial assistance

The State Government through State Level Bankers Committee would request all Public Sector/Private Sector/Regional Rural Banks to provide financial assistance under this scheme.

The quantum of assistance would be up to Rupees One lakh for new entrepreneurs and up to Rupees two lakh for existing entrepreneurs. The beneficiary contribution will be a maximum of 25% of the total project cost.

Banks will be free to sanction loans above the quantum specified above but subsidy, as reflected herein below, will be limited to 20% of the sanctioned limit subject to INR 20,000 for new entrepreneurs and 40% of the sanctioned limit subject to INR 40,000 for the existing entrepreneurs. In brief, for an amount of Rs 1,00,000/- sanctioned as a loan for a total project cost, Rs 25,000/- shall be the beneficiary’s own contribution, Rs 20,000/- the subsidy to be disbursed and Rs 55,000/- shall be the loan amount from the Banks. The extent of Government Subsidy shall be as follows

CategorySubsidy PercentageQualifying AmountRemarksNew Entrepreneur20%Upto Rs. 1,00,000/-Max subject to Rs. 20,000/-.Existing Entrepreneur20%Upto Rs. 2,00,000/-Max subject to Rs 40,000/-

Sources and references

Guidelines

Eligibility Criteria

The scheme targets individuals who want to learn fruit and vegetable preservation at home and those looking to start their own businesses:

Training on home-scale preservation of fruits and vegetables for 1, 3, or 6 days is provided to ladies and housewives through organizations like Mahila Samities, SHGs, and college groups, particularly in rural areas. (Dairy processing is included in the 1-day training).
Individuals are trained for 7 to 15 days to start small-scale cottage industries in fruits and vegetables for self-employment.
Successful trainees are provided with certificates to help them establish their own businesses.

How To Apply

Interested individuals and groups can get information and apply through the Community Canning and Training Centers located in various districts of Assam. The specific application process and details might vary slightly by district. For more information, it's best to visit or contact your nearest Community Canning and Training Center.

The office of the Deputy Director of Agriculture (Fruit Preservation) Assam, now under the Directorate of Horticulture and Food Processing, oversees these centers.

Documents Required

To participate in the training programs and avail the benefits, individuals typically need to provide the following documents:

Aadhaar Card
Voter Card
PAN Card
A valid Bank Account

Additionally, specific requirements may vary based on your local Community Canning and Training Center. It's advisable to check with the center directly for any further documentation needed.

FAQ’s

What is the main aim of this scheme?

The scheme's primary goal is to equip people, especially women, with the skills to preserve fruits and vegetables. It also aims to help them prepare value-added products and provide training for self-employment in small-scale fruit and vegetable processing industries.

Can I get a certificate after training?

Yes, upon successful completion of the training, you will receive a certificate. This certificate can help you start your own business in fruit and vegetable processing.

What kind of preserved items can I learn to make?

You can learn to prepare a variety of preserved items such as Jam, Jelly, Pickles, Squash, Sauce, and Chutney from locally available fruits and vegetables.

How long are the self-employment training courses?

The training courses designed to help you start small-scale cottage industries for self-employment in fruit and vegetable processing typically last between 7 to 15 days.

Are there different durations for the training?

Yes, there are different training durations available for home-scale preservation. You can opt for 1-day, 3-day, or 6-day training courses. Dairy processing is covered under the 1-day training.

Who can attend these training sessions?

The training sessions are open to ladies, housewives, and members of various organizations like Mahila Samities, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and college students, especially those residing in rural areas.

How are the preserved items made available to the public?

The Community Canning and Training Centers offer facilities for the preparation of various preserved items. These services are provided at nominal charges, making them accessible to the public.

Where are these Community Canning and Training Centers located?

There are 21 Community Canning and Training Centers established across 19 districts in Assam, making these services accessible in various regions of the state.

What documents are generally needed to apply?

Typically, you'll need to submit documents like your Aadhaar Card, Voter Card, PAN Card, and a valid Bank Account. However, it's best to confirm the exact list with your local training center.

What is canning in the context of fruit preservation?

Canning is a method of preserving food by placing it in jars or cans and heating it to a specific temperature. This process kills microorganisms and stops enzymes that can spoil the food, thereby extending its shelf life and maintaining quality.