Handicraft Rebate Scheme Gujarat — 5% to 20% Subsidy — Frequently Asked Questions

It is a Gujarat government subsidy programme that gives cooperative societies, apex institutions and women-led groups a rebate on the handicrafts they sell. It is run by the Commissionerate of Cottage and Rural Industries under the state's Cottage and Rural Industries Department, and its twin aims are to make Gujarati handicrafts more competitive in the market and to improve the welfare of artisans.

There is no single fixed amount — the rebate scales with your sales. General cooperatives receive 5% of retail sales on a permanent basis and women-led cooperatives receive 15%. During festive periods an extra 10% special rebate applies for 120 days, which takes the combined totals to 15% for general cooperatives and 20% for women-led groups. Enhanced rebates are also available for artisans from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and for those classified as Below Poverty Line.

You need to be a registered cooperative society, an apex institution or a women-led group, and you must be actively engaged in handicraft production. You also need prior rebate certification issued by the Commissionerate of Cottage and Rural Industries before you can claim a rebate.

The scheme's eligibility criteria do not mention DPIIT or MSME registration. What is required instead is that you come in as a registered cooperative society, an apex institution or a women-led group holding prior rebate certification issued by the Commissionerate, along with the documents the e-Kutir application form asks for.

No. This is a subsidy in the form of a sales rebate, so nothing is diluted — no equity stake is taken and there is no repayment involved.

No. The scheme operates on a rolling basis and stays open, so you can register on the e-Kutir portal and apply whenever you meet the eligibility criteria and want to avail the rebates.

The form typically requires identity proof, business registration details, bank account information and the prior rebate certification. Documents must be uploaded in the specified format and size, and you will need to enter the corresponding document numbers wherever the form prompts for them.

Start by registering as a new individual on the e-Kutir portal with your full name, Aadhaar number, gender, date of birth, mobile number, email and a password. Your user ID and password then arrive by SMS and email. Log in, complete your user profile, and select the Handicraft Rebate Scheme from the schemes displayed on your homepage. The application form is divided into tabs — fill in the mandatory fields, upload your documents, move through each tab with "Save & Next", review everything, accept the terms and declaration, and submit. A unique application number is generated at the end, so note it down; you can also print your application. Applications are filed online at the e-Kutir portal.

Your application is reviewed by the Commissionerate of Cottage and Rural Industries. The assessment covers your eligibility, the authenticity of your handicraft production and the accuracy of your documents, including the prior rebate certification. If everything verifies, the rebate entitlements are processed for disbursement through the e-voucher system. Should the application be returned for revision, a "Modify" button appears so you can edit and resubmit it.

Call the helpdesk on 9909926280 or 9909926180, or reach out to your District Industries Centre (DIC) for assistance and grievance support.

Handicraft Rebate Scheme Gujarat — 5% to 20% Subsidy is offered by Cottage and Rural Industries Department, Government of Gujarat, a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.