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Background
The District Office of the West Bengal Khadi & Village Industries Board (WBKVIB) in Cooch Behar functions under the Department of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises and Textiles. It acts as a vital bridge between the rural artisans, the district administration, panchayats, and financial institutions to boost rural employment and local entrepreneurship. The Cooch Behar District Office carries out several promotional, financial, and development activities tailored to traditional industries:PMEGP Implementation: They facilitate the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) by reviewing applications, coordinating with banks, and assisting rural entrepreneurs in setting up micro-enterprises.Support for Khadi Institutions & Artisans: The office monitors the performance of registered local Khadi societies. They oversee production, sales, and the execution of the Modified Marketing Development Assistance Scheme (MMDA) which directly transfers financial grants to local artisans and societies.Skill Training & Capacity Building: They organize local training programs, workshops, and product design interventions (such as PRODIP) to close skill gaps and modernize traditional techniques.Infrastructure & Tool Distribution: The board executes schemes like the supply and distribution of modern tools (e.g., Solar Charkhas) to traditional weavers to improve efficiency.Marketing Assistance: They support local producers by providing platforms to sell products via the state's official Gramin retail outlets, local exhibitions, and district-level Khadi Melas.Artisan Welfare: They look after the implementation of welfare trusts and schemes like the Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana to offer social security to rural craftspeople.