The Ministry of Micro Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) is implementing the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme, MSE-Cluster Development Programme and Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme for providing assistance towards modernization in the country. The benefits are also provided under NEIIP (North East Industrial Investment Promotion Policy) and under state industrial policy to Bell metal industry in Assam. Further, under MSE-Cluster Development Programme of Ministry of MSME, a proposal for setting up a Model Common Facility centre at Bell Metal Cluster at Hajo Kamrup of Assam was approved by Ministry with a financial involvement of Rs. 160.61 lakhs and Rs. 81.66 lakhs have been released as 1st instalment.

Secondly, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles is implementing seven generic schemes for promotion & development of handicrafts (including bell-metal craft), namely; Baba Sahib Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana, Design & Technology Upgradation Scheme, Marketing Support Service Scheme, Research & Development Scheme, Handicraft Artisans Comprehensive Welfare Scheme and Infrastructure & Technology Development Scheme.

Thirdly, MSME has been informed by the DC (Handicrafts) and Govt. of Assam that (i) The DC (Handicrafts), has sanctioned Rs. 49.15 lakhs for 15 SHG (315 artisans) at Sarthebari at Barpeta District of Assam under Baba Sabeh Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana (AHVY). The DC (Handicrafts) gas also sanctioned one Common Facility Centre involving an amount of Rs. 49.76 lakhs and one raw material bank amounting to Rs. 100 lakhs for the cluster, (ii) An amount of Rs. 157.34 lakhs was released under the State Priority Scheme foe Well Metal Industries, Sarthbari by Govt. of Assam and (iii) From the funds for raw material assistance, Rs. 50 lakhs was provided to 280 nos. of Bell Metal artisans, and Rs. 25 lakhs to 200 nos. brass metal artisans.

The information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Dr. E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan in Rajya Sabha today.

Industry support schemes drive cluster modernization and facility funding for bell-metal artisans, enabling targeted raw-material and infrastructure aid. Central assistance to the Assam bell-metal industry is delivered through MSME schemes - notably the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme, MSME-Cluster Development Programme and Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme - complemented by state industrial policy and NEIIP; a Model Common Facility Centre at Hajo Kamrup was approved with initial instalment released. Handicraft schemes administered by the Development Commissioner support cluster SHGs, a common facility centre, a raw material bank and targeted raw-material assistance to bell-metal and brass artisans.