West Bengal Financial Benefit Scheme 2024 for Artisans, Handloom & Khadi Weavers

West Bengal Financial Benefit Scheme for Artisans, Handloom & Khadi Weavers: West Bengal government has launched 2 new schemes for welfare of artisans and handloom & khadi weavers. The name of these 2 initiatives are West Bengal Artisans Financial Benefit Scheme and West Bengal Handloom and Khadi Weavers Financial Benefit Scheme. In this article, we will tell you about the complete details of these two schemes as announced in West Bengal Budget 2024-25.

West Bengal Artisans Financial Benefit Scheme in WB Budget 2024-25

On 8th February, Finance Minister presented West Bengal Budget 2024-25. While presenting the WB Budget, FM said "I am happy to propose a new Scheme for Artisans including traditional crafts and trades viz. West Bengal Artisans Financial Benefit Scheme 2024. Under this scheme, one-time grant up to Rs. 15,000 to individual artisan and up to Rs. 10 lakh for a group of artisans under an industrial cooperative society is proposed to be provided for buying toolkits and or construction/repair of their work-shed besides providing support for marketing". 

FM added that around 2 lakh artisans will be covered under West Bengal Artisans Financial Benefit Scheme in this financial year. The state govt. has earmarked Rs. 200 crore for this scheme in the current financial year. Another 4 lakh artisans will be brought under this scheme in the next 4 years.

West Bengal Handloom and Khadi Weavers Financial Benefit Scheme in Budget

While presenting the WB Budget 2024-25, FM said that I am pleased to propose a new Scheme for Handloom and Khadi weavers viz. West Bengal Handloom and Khadi Weavers Financial Benefit Scheme 2024. This scheme proposes to address the following three critically important elements of 500 primary weaver cooperative societies (PWCS), 200 khadi societies and individual handloom weavers:- 

• Financial support for One Time Settlement (OTS) of NPA accounts of PWCS, 

• Working capital assistance to societies and individual weavers and 
• Supply of subsidized yarn. 

Rs. 500 crore is allocated for West Bengal Handloom and Khadi Weavers Financial Benefit Scheme. The scheme will benefit 4 lakh weavers.

WB Artisans & Weavers (Death Benefit) Scheme Also Announced

Along with West Bengal Financial Benefit Scheme, the state govt. has also proposed to introduce Artisans & Weavers (Death Benefit) Scheme. This scheme aims to provide social safety net to the artisans and weavers. The new scheme shall support the dependent family members of our registered Artisans and Weavers on account of their untimely demise. 

Under this Scheme, on the death of a registered Artisan & Weaver of the age group 18- 60 years, either due to natural reasons or by accident, the dependent family members shall receive a onetime grant of Rs. 2 lakh. Rs. 60 crore is allocated for this purpose.

Source/Reference Link: https://finance.wb.gov.in/writereaddata/Budget_Speech/2024_English.pdf