New Delhi: To promote traditional industries and artisans, the Government of India has released funds to the tune of Rs 204.50 crore to Odisha under Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI).
This was informed by Union Minister of State for MSME, Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma in Parliament, recently.
A total of 498 clusters have been approved under SFURTI from 2015-16 to March 15, 2023, with a total Government of India assistance of Rs. 1292.24 crore, directly benefiting 2.94 lakh artisans across the country. Out of the total clusters under SFURTI, 89 clusters are in Aspirational districts.
Out of the 498 clusters, 68 clusters have been approved in the State of Odisha, situated in 23 districts, with a Central assistance of around Rs. 204.49 crore, he said.
As many as 45,794 artisans from Odisha have benefited from the scheme so far.
Highest Rs 4.99 crore has been sanctioned to Cashew Cluster Producers Promotion and Development Trust, Angul. A total of 719 artisans benefited from the move, Shri Verma said.
Similarly, Rs 4.97 crore assistance has been released under SFURTI to Deomali Millet Cluster in Koraput district, benefitting 1116 artisans.
The Centre has released Rs 4.83 crore to Bangurigaon Dal Products Cluster, Puri under the scheme, while Rs 4.05 crore given to Badanki Mahua Processing Cluster, Bargarh; Bhadrak Agro (Jaggery) Processing Cluster—Rs 4.67 crore; Bolagarh Indigenous Agarbatti Cluster, Khurda—Rs 4.21 crore; Brahmagiri Aquaculture Cluster, Puri—Rs 4.55 crore; Chandrashekar Groundnut Cluster, Dhenkanal—Rs 4.35 crore; Chheligada Maize Cluster, Gajapati—Rs 4.40 crore.
Moreover, Dhenkanal Tuber Crops Processing Cluster has received an assistance of Rs 4.56 crore, Gudari Feed Cluster, Rayagada (Rs 4.75 crore), Humma Dry Fish Cluster, Ganjam (Rs 4.17 crore), Kantilo Bell Metal and Wood Cluster, Khurda (Rs 4.53 crore), Kukudakhandi Corn Cluster, Ganjam (Rs 4.90 crore), Nuapada Nutri Rice Cluster, Nuapada (Rs 4.49 crore), Udala Palmaroja Cluster, Mayurbhanj (Rs 4.12 crore) and Vegetable & Food Processing Cluster (Rs 4.89 crore).
Under this scheme, traditional industries and artisans are organized into collective manufacturing enterprises for making value-added traditional products and provide the artisans with enhanced sustainable employment.
Assistance is provided for establishment of Common Facility Centers (CFCs), procurement of new machineries, along with skill upgradation, marketing and design support, etc. The major sectors covered under SFURTI include handicrafts, textiles, bamboo, agro-processing, honey, khadi, coir, etc.