Goa Clay Idol Makers Subsidy — ₹100 per Idol, ₹15,000 a Year

Clay idol making is one of Goa's older cottage trades, and the state wants it to keep going. The Goa (Subsidy to Clay Idol Makers) Scheme, run by the Directorate of Industries, Trade and Commerce, passes money straight to the artisans who still shape idols by hand instead of moving to moulded materials such as Plaster of Paris or polyfibre.

Delivery on the ground is handled by the Goa Handicrafts, Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Limited (GHRSSIDC). The corporation keeps the register of eligible idol manufacturers, checks workshops, and takes approved claims forward for payment.

The offer works on quantity: ₹100 for every qualifying clay idol, subject to a ceiling of ₹15,000 per artisan in a year. This is a subsidy and not an investment, so no share of the artisan's business is handed over in return.

The scheme also keeps the trade local. Only idols genuinely made in Goa and sold inside the state count towards a claim, which means imported stock or goods bought for resale do not attract support. The money therefore stays within the state's own festival economy.

There is no closing date to track down. Applications run on a rolling basis, and once a claim clears inspection the Appraisal Committee decides it on a first-come, first-served basis — so filing early helps.

• ₹100 subsidy on each clay idol produced, minimum size 1 foot
• Maximum payout of ₹15,000 per artisan per year
• Open only to traditional clay idol makers registered with GHRSSIDC in Goa
• Idols must be made and sold inside Goa — imported or traded stock does not count
• Religious idols alone qualify; decorative items are excluded
• Rolling applications, decided first-come, first-served after a workshop inspection

Two conditions sit at the centre of this scheme: you must be a traditional clay idol maker based in Goa, and you must already be registered with GHRSSIDC for clay idol manufacturing. Everything else is checked around the idols themselves.

• Trade and domicile: the applicant has to be a traditional clay idol artisan from Goa.
• Registration: an existing GHRSSIDC registration as an idol manufacturer is required before a claim can be considered.
• Own production: the idols must be made by the applicant, within Goa. Bought-in, imported or resold idols are outside the scheme.
• Premises: a workshop or manufacturing unit located inside Goa is needed for producing the idols.
• Purpose of the idol: support covers idols meant for religious use only, with Ganesh, Durga, Saraswati and Mother Mary given as examples. Decorative pieces are excluded.
• Records: the artisan must keep a record of idols produced and sold, noting size, price, buyer details and date of sale.
• Inspection: the applicant must cooperate with a physical inspection of the unit by GHRSSIDC officials.

Goa Clay Idol Makers Subsidy — ₹100 per Idol, ₹15,000 a Year is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

Goa Clay Idol Makers Subsidy — ₹100 per Idol, ₹15,000 a Year accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no fixed cut-off date, so eligible startups can apply at any time. Because rolling programmes can pause without notice, confirm the window is still open on the official site before you start.

The support is calculated on output, not on turnover or investment.

• ₹100 per idol: every qualifying clay idol of at least 1 foot in size earns a subsidy of ₹100.
• Annual ceiling of ₹15,000: no artisan can receive more than ₹15,000 in a single year, so the cap is reached at 150 idols.
• Non-dilutive support: this is a government subsidy, so no equity or ownership in the artisan's unit is given up.
• Payment by cheque: once the Appraisal Committee approves a claim, the amount is issued by cheque in the name of the registered artisan. Disbursement happens after GHRSSIDC receives the funds from the Government.
• Follow-up conditions: beneficiaries need to maintain sales records and submit utilisation certificates before later releases are made.
• Local commerce: since only idols produced and sold within Goa qualify, the scheme steers demand towards the state's own artisan market.
• Recognition: GHRSSIDC registration gives an artisan formal standing, along with access to government support, workshops and marketing initiatives connected to the craft.

Goa Clay Idol Makers Subsidy — ₹100 per Idol, ₹15,000 a Year is offered by Directorate of Industries, Trade and Commerce, Government of Goa, a government body. As a government-backed subsidy, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India.

There is no written test or pitch round here. The first filter is a visit: officials from GHRSSIDC come to the applicant's workshop to verify the production capacity available there and to carry out a physical count of the clay idols already in stock, with the artisan present during the counting.

After that inspection, the decision rests with an Appraisal Committee made up of the Chairman, the Managing Director, one nominated Director and a representative of the Government.

Approvals are granted on a first-come, first-served basis, so a complete application filed earlier stands a better chance than an identical one filed later.

Once cleared, the subsidy is released by cheque drawn in favour of the registered artisan, and the payment moves after GHRSSIDC has received the corresponding funds from the Government. Beneficiaries must keep their sales records and file utilisation certificates to unlock subsequent releases.

Before you apply to Goa Clay Idol Makers Subsidy — ₹100 per Idol, ₹15,000 a Year, keep the following documents ready:

• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

Goa Clay Idol Makers Subsidy — ₹100 per Idol, ₹15,000 a Year is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹15,000. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.