Criteria for selecting a Promoter Agency / Special Purpose Vehicle(SPV)
A) Existing Institutions for Khadi and Village Industry(KVI) may apply to establish such a Cluster. However, the following conditions must be met:
- KVI has a good balance sheet and assets that benefit the institution.
- KVI has an artisan base of at least 200 people.
- In each of the previous three preceding financial years, KVI had a sales turnover of at least Rs. One Crore.
- In the previous three years, the number of new artisans should have increased.
B) Other Institutions such as SPV, Society, Trust, Section 8 Company, or LLP formed under respective statutes might also apply for the setting up of a new Solar Charkha Cluster, subject to the following criteria:
- Mission & Vision
- With sufficient experience on the Board and Governing Structure.
- Effective Management Information System (MIS).
- Equity and debt are financial resources.
- Profitability and IRR for the previous three years’ financial performance
C) First-timers willing to join the village industry movement through solar charkha clusters may apply for a new cluster using the following criteria:
- The strongest commitment to the cause of social and rural upliftment.
- Funding commitments from Scheduled Commercial Banks/Venture Capital Funds/Private Equity Funds/NBFCs
- Effective Management Information System (MIS).
- Any other criterion must be authorized by the governing council.
Solar Charkha Mission
Solar Charkha Mission requires the establishment of Solar Charkha Clusters, which would include a central community and neighboring villages within an 8 to 10-kilometre radius. Further, such a cluster will benefit 200 to 2042 people (spinners, weavers, stitches, and other skilled artisans). Each spinner will be given two charkhas, each with ten spindles. On average, such a cluster is expected to have around 1000 charkhas. A full-capacity cluster will directly employ 2042 artisans. The Indian government has approved 50 such clusters with a budget of 550 crores for 2018-19 and 2019-20. The Scheme is expected to generate over one lakh direct jobs in the approved Fifty (50) Clusters.