Swavalambi/Sanchari Marata Malige — ₹2L–₹5L SC Artisan Subsidy — Frequently Asked Questions

The subsidy ranges from ₹2,00,000 to ₹5,00,000, and the exact figure depends on where you plan to run the business. Taluk level applicants receive ₹2,00,000, those in taluk and district centres receive ₹3,00,000, applicants within Mahanagara Palike limits receive ₹4,00,000, and those inside BBMP limits receive ₹5,00,000.

You must be a leather artisan from a Scheduled Caste community in Karnataka and at least 18 years old. Your annual family income cannot exceed ₹30,000 in a rural area or ₹25,000 in an urban area. You also cannot have received benefits from another government scheme — training programmes are the exception — and no family member should be employed in a government or semi-government organisation.

The notified sub-castes are Arundathiyar, Chammadiya, Chamar, Chambar, Chamagar, Madar, Madig, Madiga, Mini Madig, Jambavalu, Haralayya, Machigar, Mochigar, Mochi, Muchi, Telugu Mochi, Kamaati Mocha, Rohidas, Dhor, Kakkayya, Kankayya, Samagara, Samagar, Aadhi Anddra, Aadhi Dravida and Aadhi Karnataka. If you belong to one of these communities and work in leather craft, you fall within the target group.

Neither. The assistance is a non-repayable subsidy, so the amount does not have to be returned, and the scheme does not take any stake or ownership share in your business in exchange for the money.

It is meant for building a sales channel. You can use it to set up your own retail showroom, or to acquire a mobile van that takes your leather products to customers. Both options allow you to sell directly instead of through intermediaries.

There is no fixed last date. The scheme runs on a rolling basis and applications are accepted through the year, so you can submit your form whenever your details are ready.

Yes. New users must first register on the Seva Sindhu Portal. Registration asks for your Aadhaar number and captcha, an OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number, consent for DigiLocker account creation, an email ID, a mobile number and a password you create, followed by validation of the OTPs sent to your email and phone.

Log in to the Seva Sindhu Portal, open Department & Services, select Social Welfare Department and choose the Swavalambi/Sanchari Marata Malige scheme. Click Apply Online, sign in with your registered email ID or mobile number and OTP, then fill in your personal, address and banking details. On submission you receive an Application ID.

Use the Application ID issued when you submit your form. It is provided for tracking, and you can check your application's progress with it on the Seva Sindhu Portal.

That would disqualify the application. Neither the applicant nor any family member should have received benefits under another government scheme, and training programmes are the only benefit that does not count against you. Families with a member employed in a government or semi-government organisation are also excluded.

No. DPIIT (Startup India) recognition is not listed as a mandatory requirement for Swavalambi/Sanchari Marata Malige — ₹2L–₹5L SC Artisan Subsidy, though having it can strengthen your application and unlock other benefits.

Swavalambi/Sanchari Marata Malige — ₹2L–₹5L SC Artisan Subsidy is offered by Karnataka State Leather Industries Development Corporation (LIDKAR), a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.