Mahila Coir Yojana

Mahila Coir Yojana is a welfare scheme which aims to provide self-employment opportunities to the rural women artisans in coir producing regions. Under this scheme, Under MCY, the Coir Board provides 75% cost of motorised Ratt/motorised traditional Ratt as a one-time subsidy, subject to a maximum limit of Rs.7,500 for motorised Ratt and Rs.3,200 for motorised traditional and Electronic Ratt. In this article, we look at the Mahila Coir Yojana in detail. Also, read about Coir Udyami Yojana (CUY)

Eligibility Criteria

Any Women artisans who have completed the training programme in the spinning of coir yarn through any of the training centres of the Coir Board is eligible to apply for the scheme.

Coverage of the Scheme

Mahila Coir Yojana will be covered in coir producing coastal States such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Lakshadweep, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, West Bengal and North East Region.

Subsidy Rate

The subsidy allowed for procurement of various spinning equipment is tabulated below.

S.No	Machinery Items	Machinery Contribution	Maximum subsidy
1.	Electronic Ratt	25% of the cost	Rs.3,200 (75% of the purchasing cost of Rs.3,200 whichever is less)
2.	Motorized Electronic Ratt	25% of the cost	Rs.3,200 (75% of the purchasing cost of Rs.3,200 whichever is less)
3.	Motorized Ratt	25% of the cost	Rs.7,500 (75% of the purchasing cost of Rs.7500 whichever is less)

Note: The Board will also provide the following machinery in subsidised rate to the women who have completed the training programme.

S.No	Machinery Items	Indicative Rate	Maximum Subsidy
1.	Willowing machine	Rs.35,000	Rs.7500
2.	Anugraha Loom for weaving Coir Geotextiles & matting	Rs.45,000	Rs.7500
3.	Cotton Handloom Stitching machine & accessories for manufacturing Janatha Mattress	Rs.45,000	Rs.7500
4.	Single head automatic yarn spinning	Rs.50,000	Rs.7500
5.	Manufacture of frame mats, SS dye Vatt 10 kg -1 no., Salem charka - 2 sets	Rs.45,000	Rs.7500
6.	Hand press garden articles making the unit	Rs.50,000	Rs.7500
7.	Brush making unit with twisted wire	Rs.45,000	Rs.7500
8.	Coir pith compost unit with accessories	Rs.50,000	Rs.7500
9.	Coir wood moulded articles manufacturing unit.	Rs. 50,000	Rs.7500
10.	Coir handicraft and jewellery manufacturing unit including dye	Rs. 50,000	Rs.7500
11.	Unit for Stitching of Umbrella/Coir BagsJacket/Chapels/Curtain etc.	Rs. 50,000	Rs.7500
12.	Manual Dyeing / Bleaching Unit	Rs. 50,000	Rs.7500
13.	Coir craft Article making unit	Rs. 50,000	Rs.7500
14.	Mats/ Matting Unit	Rs. 50,000	Rs.7500
15.	Kitchen garden Unit kit with accessories	Rs. 10,000	Rs.7500
16.	Coco Pole and Pot making Unit	Rs. 50,000	Rs.7500
17.	Any other machinery or unit approved by the Board and suitable to create employment opportunities for women.	After proper evaluation amount will be fixed by the Board.	75% of the total cost of machinery.

Release of Subsidy

Each beneficiary will be provided with only one MR/MTR/Electronic Ratt and other machinery/equipment under the MCY scheme. Motorised traditional ratt/Motorised ratt/Electronic ratt and other equipment/machinery will be given only to those who have completed the respective training successfully. The assistance allocated from the Coir Board will be in the form of a one-time subsidy subject to 75% of the cost of the MR/MTR/Electronic ratt. The remaining amount has to be raised by the beneficiary through her sources/financial institutions/voluntary organizations. Note: The beneficiary selected under the scheme should not mortgage the Motorised traditional ratt/Motorised ratt/Electronic ratt and other machinery/equipment except to financing institution/other agency from whom the loan or grant for procurement of machinery availed.

Application Procedure

To apply for the Mahila Coir Yojana, follow the steps mentioned below: Step 1: The beneficiary should prepare the records which include the cost of the machinery, specification, source of amount sanctioned to the authorized officer and quantum of subsidy under the scheme. Step 2: The separate bank account should be opened for the Mahila Coir Yojana transactions by the RO/SRO. Step 3: The beneficiary of the MCY scheme will open a separate account in a post office or scheduled bank in the region and deposit beneficiary contribution in the account. The respective cheque book and passbook of the beneficiary will be maintained in the implementing office of the Board. Step 4: The motors or spares of machinery supplied by the manufacturers should be as per specifications stipulated by BIS. Step 6: The beneficiary contribution will be remitted by the beneficiary in a separate account. The proof of remittance of beneficiary contribution along with the invoice for supply of the machinery from the manufacturer according to the choice of the beneficiary will be collected by the RO/Sub-RO and kept for the audit of Coir Board and C&AG. Step 7: The RO/ SRO will submit the request with the beneficiary contribution details to Head Office for releasing subsidy amount, and Head Office will sanction the amount to concerned RO/SRO. The RO/SRO will issue subsidy to beneficiary account as per Scheme norms. Step 8: Upon receipt of sanction letter and the subsidy amount from Head Office by the Sub-RO or RO, the manufacturer should supply the machinery to the beneficiaries and then the inspection will take place by the officials of Coir Board for approval of the standards and quality of the equipment. Step 9: Upon completion of the inspection by the Sub Regional Office or Regional Office performance certificate/bill/receipt has to be obtained from the beneficiary. Step 10: The RO/Sub-RO will distribute subsidy amount for the cost of the machinery supplied to the beneficiary. Step 11: The manufacturer will receive the amount from the beneficiary immediately through DD/cheque/online transfer. Step 10: The machinery will be supplied to beneficiaries will be made by the Coir Board in two months from the completion of the training. Step 12: The RO/ SRO will have to submit the expenditure statement along with utilization certificate to Head Office for settlement. Step 13: The inspection of the machinery will be made by the technical officers of RO/SROs, and inspection will be made by CCRI/CICT to confirm the technical specifications/performance, and the final decision will be decided by Chairman, Coir Board, wherever necessary. Step 14: Any delay in the supply of machinery by the Machinery Manufacturer will result in blacklisting of the manufacturers, cancellation of orders and other legal action. Step 15: A committee consisting of the Regional Officers nominated, Joint Director, CCRI/CICT and an Officer of the Accounts Wing of the Board will review the cost of the machinery for finalizing the cost with the approval of Chairman, Coir Board.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Mahila Coir Yojana: Empowering Women in Coir Industry.

Any women artisans who have completed the training program in spinning coir yarn through any of the Coir Board's training centers are eligible to apply for the scheme. This initiative aims to provide self-employment opportunities to rural women artisans in coir-producing regions.

The Coir Board provides a maximum subsidy of Rs. 7,500 for motorized Ratt and Rs. 3,200 for motorized traditional and electronic Ratt, which covers 75% of the cost of these spinning equipment.

The scheme is covered in coir-producing coastal states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Lakshadweep, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, West Bengal, and the North East Region.

In addition to spinning equipment, the Coir Board also provides subsidies for procuring various other machinery and equipment, such as willowing machines, looms, stitching machines, spinning machines, and units for making coir products like mats, handicrafts, compost, and more, subject to a maximum subsidy of Rs. 7,500.

The subsidy is provided as a one-time payment directly to the beneficiary's separate bank account. The beneficiary needs to contribute their share of the cost, and upon verification, the Coir Board will release the subsidy amount to the beneficiary's account.

The application process involves preparing the necessary documents, opening a separate bank account, depositing the beneficiary's contribution, submitting the request to the Regional Office (RO)/Sub-Regional Office (SRO), receiving the subsidy amount, procuring the machinery, and completing the necessary inspections and verifications.

The Coir Board has specified a list of approved machinery and equipment eligible for subsidy under the scheme. These include items like Ratts, willowing machines, looms, stitching machines, and various units for manufacturing coir products. Any other machinery or equipment needs to be evaluated and approved by the Coir Board.

The Coir Board ensures the quality of the machinery and equipment by stipulating that the motors or spares should comply with the specifications set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Additionally, technical officers from the Coir Board and Coir Institutes conduct inspections to verify the standards and performance of the supplied machinery.

In case of any delay in the supply of machinery by the manufacturer, the Coir Board may take actions such as blacklisting the manufacturer, canceling orders, and initiating legal proceedings.

The Coir Board has constituted a committee comprising Regional Officers, Joint Directors of Coir Institutes, and an Accounts Wing officer to review and finalize the cost of the machinery eligible for subsidy under the scheme, with the approval of the Chairman of the Coir Board.