Solar Charkha Mission

On the occasion of the United Nations MSME Day on June 27, 2018, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) announced the Solar Charkha Mission. Information regarding this enterprise-driven objective was just published by the government. Solar Charkha Scheme is one of several government initiatives that might be asked about in the IAS Exam. This page contains important information regarding the mission.

Overview of Mission Solar Charkha
When was it launched?	27th June 2018
The mission is under which government ministry?	Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)
Aim of the mission	Employment generation for nearly one lakh people through solar charkha clusters in rural areas
An outlay of the mission	Rs. 550 Crores
Official Website	https://www.kviconline.gov.in/msc/

Background of Solar Charkha Mission

• A mission solar charkha pilot project was launched in Khanwa village in Bihar's Nawada district in 2016.


• It was formally launched in 2018 on United Nations MSME Day, following the success of the mission solar charkha pilot project.

Solar Charkha Mission – UPSC Notes:-Download PDF Here

Financial Assistance to the Solar Charkha Scheme

There are three types of project interventions:

1. Capital subsidy for individual and for Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)


2. Interest Subvention for Working Capital


3. Capacity Building.

Salient Points of Solar Charkha Mission

1. Establishment of Solar Charkha Clusters:
   
   
   
   • It is a focal village along with surrounding villages (within the radius of 8-10 kms.)
   
   
   • It will have 200-2042 beneficiaries.
   
   
   • Spinners, weavers, stitches and other skilled artisans are the beneficiaries of mission solar charkha (MSC.)
   
   
   
   


2. The components of solar charkha:
   
   
   
   • Each beneficiary will get two solar charkhas of 10 spindles each.
   
   
   • One cluster is to have 1000 solar charkhas.
   
   
   • 2042 artisans will get direct employment in a cluster that will work with full capacity.
   
   
   
   


3. The government has set an outlay of Rs.550 crores for 50 clusters between 2018-2020.


4. One lakh artisans with a focus on women and youth will be directly employed in 50 clusters under the solar charkha scheme.


5. One cluster will attract a maximum subsidy of Rs. 9.60 crores.

Objectives of Solar Charkha Mission

• Inclusive development - The solar charkha mission strives to increase inclusion by hiring women and children.


• Sustainable Development - The scheme's usage of solar charkhas seeks to promote rural sustainable development.


• Rural Economic Development - The collection of villages will operate as clusters, and the mission's goal is to strengthen the rural economy by creating jobs.


• Stopping Migration - The mission's goal is to stop people from moving from villages to cities. Internal migration accounts for 37 percent of Indians, according to the 2011 census.


• Encourage the use of low-cost, innovative technology.