**Executive Summary**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1936 regarding the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI). It provides information on the scheme's progress, impact, expansion plans, and implementation status, as well as the details for approved SFURTI clusters across the country and in Tamil Nadu. The answers were provided on 11.12.2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **SFURTI Scheme Progress:**
* Since 2015-16, the government has approved 513 clusters with a total assistance of Rs. 1,332.95 crore, directly benefitting 3.03 lakh traditional artisans.
* Currently, 376 clusters are functional, and 137 are under implementation.
* **SFURTI Cluster Details:**
* **National Level:** Sector-wise details of the approved clusters are available in Annexure I.
* **Tamil Nadu:** A total of 28 clusters have been approved in Tamil Nadu with committed assistance of Rs. 73.78 cr, out of which 19 are functional. Benefiting 21,397 artisans and 9 are under implementation. Details are available in Annexure II.
* **Tiruvannamalai District (including Arani):** The Mukkurumbai Rice and Millets Value Added Products Cluster was approved in FY 2021–22, with a committed assistance of Rs. 222.09 lakh. Of this amount, Rs. 200.812 lakh has already been released and proposes to benefit 370 artisans.
* **Scheme Continuation & Expansion:**
* The SFURTI Scheme was in continuation up to 30.09.2022.
* Future proposals for new clusters will be examined on merit and as per the extant guidelines, subject to approval for extension of the scheme's operations.
* **Implementation Monitoring:**
* The scheme ensures timely implementation through structured project governance, milestone-based monitoring, and clear accountability across agencies.
* State-wise and district-wise details of the approved clusters are available on the SFURTI Scheme portal: [https://sfurti.msme.gov.in/SFURTI/Home.aspx](https://sfurti.msme.gov.in/SFURTI/Home.aspx)
* **Agency Assessment:**
* The Ministry has instituted periodic review mechanisms for empanelment, renewal, and removal of Implementing Agencies (IAs) and Technical Agencies (TAs) based on performance criteria.
* These mechanisms include structured review meetings, third-party evaluations, and field inspections to verify ground-level implementation and evaluate the operational readiness of Common Facility Centres (CFCs).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholders Impacted:** Traditional Artisans and Micro-Enterprises
* **Impact:** Beneficiaries of the SFURTI scheme, experiencing improved socio-economic conditions. Specifically, 3.03 lakh artisans across the country are directly benefitting.
* **Action Required:** Continue engaging with the scheme and utilize the resources and support provided to enhance their traditional industries.
**Stakeholders Impacted:** Implementing and Technical Agencies (Including CSR Trust Fund)
* **Impact:** Subject to performance-based review, renewal, or removal based on set criteria.
* **Action Required:** Ensure effective management of MSME cluster development projects, adhere to implementation guidelines, and participate in review meetings and evaluations.
**Stakeholders Impacted:** Government (Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises)
* **Impact:** Responsible for monitoring the SFURTI Scheme and ensuring effective implementation, accountability, and achieving socio-economic benefits for traditional artisans and micro-enterprises.
* **Action Required:** Continue periodic reviews, third-party evaluations, and field inspections to verify ground-level implementation and evaluate the operational readiness of Common Facility Centres (CFCs).
Key Entities Referenced
Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI): A scheme by the Government of India to support traditional industries by establishing clusters, enhancing socio-economic conditions of artisans, and improving market linkages.
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises: The central government ministry responsible for the SFURTI scheme.
Tamil Nadu: State where SFURTI cluster implementation is specifically questioned in the Lok Sabha.
Arani: Region in Tamil Nadu where the scheme's impact on traditional artisans and micro-enterprises is questioned.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1936
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2025
SFURTI Clusters
1936. SHRI THARANIVENTHAN M S:
SHRI SRIBHARAT MATHUKUMILLI:
Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:
(a) the current progress of the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries
(SFURTI) scheme across the country, including the number of clusters established, industries
covered and the total funds disbursed;
(b) whether the scheme has improved the socio-economic conditions of traditional artisans
and micro-enterprises, particularly those from Arani, in terms of income enhancement,
employment generation, skill upgrading and improved market linkages and if so, the details
thereof along with quantifiable benefits recorded so far for artisans supported under SFURTI
clusters;
(c) the future expansion plans of the Government to cover more traditional industries and
rural artisan communities, especially in Arani along with the measures adopted to ensure
sustainability, branding and marketability of products produced under SFURTI;
(d) the status of SFURTI clusters approved and operational across the country, State-wise and
district-wise, along with the measures taken by the Government to monitor and expedite the
implementation of pending SFURTI clusters;
(e) the status of implementation of SFURTI clusters in Tamil Nadu, specifically the details of
sanctioned, ongoing and proposed clusters in and around Arani Lok Sabha Constituency,
including sectors covered and number of beneficiaries; and
(f) whether the Government has undertaken any assessment to evaluate the effectiveness,
accountability and capacity of Implementing and Technical Agencies, including CSR Trust Fund,
involved in managing MSME cluster development projects and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a): Under the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) scheme,
513 clusters has been approved by Government since 2015-16 with a total assistance of Rs.
1,332.95 crore, directly benefitting 3.03 lakh traditional artisans across the country. Presently, out
of 513 clusters, 376 are functional and 137 clusters are under implementation. Sector-wise details
of the approved clusters are given at Annexure I.: 2 :
(b) and (c): In the Tiruvannamalai district (including Arani), the Mukkurumbai Rice and
Millets Value Added Products Cluster was approved under SFURTI during FY 2021–22 with a
committed assistance of Rs. 222.09 lakh of which Rs. 200.812 lakh has already been released and
proposes to benefit 370 artisans engaged in traditional agro-based processing activities.
It is to further state that the SFURTI Scheme was in continuation up to 30.09.2022. Accordingly,
any future proposal for setting up new clusters, will be examined on merit and as per the extant
guidelines, subject to the approval for extension of the scheme’s operations.
(d): Under the Scheme, timely implementation of the cluster is ensured through structured
project governance, regular milestone-based monitoring, and clear accountability across agencies.
State-wise and district-wise details of the approved clusters across the country may be accessed
from the official portal of the SFURTI Scheme at https://sfurti.msme.gov.in/SFURTI/Home.aspx
(e): A total of 28 clusters have been approved in the state of Tamil Nadu under SFURTI with
committed GoI assistance of Rs. 73.78 cr. Out of these 28 clusters, 19 clusters are functional
benefiting 21,397 artisans and 9 clusters are under implementation. Details are given in
Annexure II.
(f): The Ministry has instituted periodic review mechanisms for empanelment, renewal, and
removal of IAs and TAs based on performance criteria. These mechanisms include structured
review meetings, third party evaluations and field inspections to verify ground-level
implementation and evaluate the operational readiness of Common Facility Centres (CFCs).
****Annexure I
Annexure referred to in reply to Part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1936 for
answer on 11.12.2025.
Sector-wise details of the approved clusters under SFURTI
Clusters Under
Functional Clusters
SL Sector No. of Clusters Implementation
(No.)
(No.)
1 Agro 138 86 52
2 Bamboo 39 29 10
3 Coir 40 31 9
4 Handicraft 137 104 33
5 Honey 19 10 9
6 Khadi 4 3 1
7 Textile 136 113 23
Total 513 376 137Annexure II
Annexure referred to in reply to Part (e) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1936 for
answer on 11.12.2025.
Sector-wise details of SFURTI Clusters approved in Tamil Nadu:
Sectors Total Functional Committed GoI Total Artisans
Cluster Clusters Assistance proposed to be
Approved (No.) (INR In Lakhs) benefited (No.)
(No.)
Agro 5 3 967.26 1656
Coir 14 12 4783.35 20511
Handicraft 5 2 852.45 1630
Honey 1 0 216.26 400
Textile 3 2 559.25 1334
Total 28 19 7378.57 25531