The solar charkha, or domestic spinning-wheel, is powered by solar energy and each charkha has 10 spindles. In 2016, the Narendra Modi government launched a pilot project under the Mission Solar Charkha, which envisaged providing sustainable employment opportunities to rural women and youth.

Ministry of MSME has launched Mission Solar Charkha for production of khadi through solar-powered charkhas. The spinners would be trained in operating the charkhas.

Launch details

Objectives

• To ensure inclusive growth by generation of employment, especially for women and youth, and sustainable development through solar charkha clusters in rural areas.

• To boost rural economy and help in arresting migration from rural to urban areas.

• To leverage low-cost, innovative technologies and processes for sustenance.

About Solar Charkha Mission:

• Launched in 2018.

• It is a Ministry of Micro Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) initiative launched during June 2018.

• The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) would implement the programme.

• It seeks to generate employment in rural areas and contribute to the green economy.

• The mission will entail a subsidy of Rs 550 crore in the initial two years for 50 clusters and every cluster will employ 400 to 2000 artisans.

• The scheme also aims at linking five crore women across the country to the initiative.

• The mission is expected to create one lakh jobs during the first two years.

Eligibility for the scheme

• For small scale businesses – Only those applicants will be allowed to enroll under the scheme, which are interested in running small scale manufacturing units. Large scale organizations have been left out.

•  MSME certificate is a must – All business owners must be registered with the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Department. Without this  certificate, applicants will not get the benefits.                    

Key Points

• The Solar Charkha Mission is an enterprise driven scheme and envisages setting up of ‘Solar Charkha Clusters’ which will have 200 to 2042 beneficiaries (Spinners, Weavers, Stitchers and other skilled artisans).

• One cluster would involve a maximum subsidy of Rs. 9.60 crore provided in form of Capital subsidy for individual and Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), interest subvention for working capital and capacity building.

• These solar charkhas are to be operated using solar power which is a renewable energy source. It will help in the development of Green Economy as it is an environment friendly programme. It will also generate sustainable employment for the artisans.

Features

• The scheme envisages setting up of Solar Charkha Clusters which would mean a focal village and other surrounding villages in a radius of 8 to 10 kilometers. Further, such a cluster will have 200 to 2042 beneficiaries (spinners, weavers, stitches and other skilled artisans).

• Each spinner will be given two charkhas of 10 spindles each. On an average, it is considered that such cluster will have about 1000 charkhas. A cluster with full capacity will provide direct employment to 2042 artisans.

• Government of India has accorded approval to set up 50 such clusters with a budget of 550 Crore of 2018-19 and 2019-20.

• The Scheme is envisaged to generate direct employment nearly to one lakh persons in the approved Fifty (50) Clusters.