Exposure Tour for Coir Artisans — Puducherry Subsidy, ₹150/Day — Frequently Asked Questions

The scheme is a subsidy, and no fixed ceiling is published — the amount varies according to the tour. In practice it covers conveyance, accommodation and any fees charged by the institutions or training centres visited, and it adds a daily allowance of ₹150 per person per day towards incidentals and daily expenses.

The published eligibility rule is that the applicant should be a coir artisan, and the scheme is aimed at artisans working in the Union Territory of Puducherry. Its purpose is to bring improved techniques back to local coir units, so active involvement in the coir trade in Puducherry is the core requirement.

No. The scheme runs on a rolling, always-open basis, so there is no annual window or closing date. You can submit your application on any official working day during office hours at the District Industries Centre in Thattanchavady.

No. This is a government subsidy, not an investment — it reimburses travel, stay and institution fees and pays a daily allowance. Nothing is taken in return, so there is no dilution of ownership for the artisan.

The published eligibility criteria mention only coir artisan status. DPIIT recognition, MSME registration, a registered company or LLP, and founder qualifications are not listed as requirements for this scheme.

You begin with the prescribed application form, which is available for download from the official website of the Department of Industries and Commerce, Puducherry. A recent passport-sized photograph has to be pasted on the form, with a signature across it if the instructions call for one, and self-attested copies of supporting documents such as an artisan ID and proof of residence must be attached.

The process is entirely offline. Download and print the prescribed form, fill in every mandatory field, paste your passport photograph and attach the self-attested supporting documents, then hand the completed application in person to the Project Manager (Cottage Industries) at the District Industries Centre, Thattanchavady, Puducherry - 605 009, on official working days during office hours. The scheme page is at https://dic.py.gov.in/development-of-coir.

Your application is formally registered in an application receipt register and you are assigned a unique identification number. That number is both your acknowledgement of receipt and the reference to quote in all future queries about your application status. The application then goes through administrative review and the selection process.

Participants travel to advanced coir units in other states and observe modern manufacturing techniques, innovative product development ideas and efficient operational practices at close range. The objective is to equip artisans with advanced knowledge and practical skills they can implement in their own coir units in Puducherry, improving product quality and competitiveness in the national market.

It is offline. The form is downloaded from the department's website, printed and filled by hand, and then submitted in person at the District Industries Centre — there is no online submission route described for this scheme.

Exposure Tour for Coir Artisans — Puducherry Subsidy, ₹150/Day is offered by Industries and Commerce Department, Government of Puducherry, a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.