Abstract
Cottage industries play a vital role in the Indian economy, significantly contributing to job creation, rural development, poverty reduction, and the preservation of traditional crafts. Acknowledging their socio-economic value, the Government of India has rolled out several initiatives designed to bolster these industries through financial support, skill enhancement, technological aid, infrastructure improvements, and market promotion. This study evaluates the effectiveness of key government initiatives aimed at fostering the growth and sustainability of cottage industries in India. It delves into important schemes such as the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI), the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY), the Prime Minister Vishwakarma Scheme, One District One Product (ODOP), and the Digital India initiatives. Using a descriptive and analytical approach, the study relies on secondary data gathered from government reports, research articles, and policy documents. The findings indicate that government interventions have had a positive impact on job creation, entrepreneurial growth, access to financing, and market reach. However, challenges like limited awareness, complex procedures, technological hurdles, and marketing issues still hinder the effectiveness of these initiatives. The study wraps up with policy suggestions aimed at enhancing the impact of government support systems and ensuring the sustainable development of cottage industries in India.
KEYWORDS
Cottage Industries, Government Initiatives, MSMEs, Rural Development, Employment Generation, PMEGP, SFURTI, MUDRA, ODOP.
Anurag Verma1*, Preeti Sharma2
¹Research Scholar, Department of Commerce, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, Agra-282004, U. P., India ²Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce, Smt. B.D. Jain Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Agra-282001, U. P., India