SYLLABUS SECTION –INDIAN SOCIETY

Why in News ?

The self-sustainability measures initiated by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic have begun yielding results. The distressed migrant workers who were engaged with KVIC’s Honey Mission in Uttar Pradesh in the month of August, have reaped their first honey harvest and are awaiting a bumper yield in the months from December to March.

About Honey Mission

• The Honey Mission was launched by KVIC in 2017 which aimed at creating employment for the Adivasis, farmers, unemployed youth, and women by roping them in beekeeping while also increasing India’s honey production.

• Western Uttar Pradesh has been chosen as one of the most favourable markets for honey production as the entire region has an abundance of flora that also includes a variety of crops.

• KVIC acts liaison as an income-generating tool for the beekeepers and beekeeping.

• KVIC ensures better food and medicine with the value of honey production and other hive products and supports cross-pollination that pays the way for agriculture crops.

• KVIC would provide loans for setting up processing units, packaging units and labelling units for honey.

• The significance of the mission lies in the fact that Production of healthy honey and wax, and bee-keeping would open many job opportunities for unemployed youths and also for aspiring young entrepreneurs.

About Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)

• It is a statutory body formed under ‘Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956’ by Government of India.

• It is an apex organisation under Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

• It is nodal implementation agency of Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) at national level.

• PMEGP is a major credit-linked subsidy programme being implemented by MSME Ministry since 2008-09 and will Continue till 2019-20. It aims to generate employment in India’s rural and urban areas.

Source – PIB