Goa (Subsidy to Clay Idol Makers) Scheme
Directorate of Industries, Trade and Commerce, Government of Goa · Central government
Goa's government pays registered traditional clay idol makers ₹100 per idol, capped at ₹15,000 a year, to revive the local cottage industry.
Open, rolling. Applications are accepted continuously — there is no deadline.
Key facts
- Subsidy amount
- Up to ₹15,000
- Instrument
- Subsidy
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Disbursement
- Released against milestones
About this scheme
The Department of Industries, Government of Goa, introduced the Goa (Subsidy to Clay Idol Makers) Scheme to strengthen the state's traditional clay idol cottage industry. Through subsidies, the scheme extends financial assistance to local artisans, helping them compete against lower-cost substitutes such as Plaster of Paris and polyfibre.
Under the scheme, artisans receive ₹100 per idol, along with annual financial grants reaching up to ₹15,000 per artisan. The Goa Handicrafts, Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Limited (GHRSSIDC) administers the programme.
To qualify, applicants must be traditional clay idol makers registered with GHRSSIDC and must make their idols within Goa. Such assistance plays a role in safeguarding cultural heritage and sustaining the livelihoods of artisans.
Who can apply
- Eligible business forms
- Sole proprietorship
- Udyam registration
- Not specified
- MSME registration
- Not required
- DPIIT startup recognition
- Not required
- GST registration
- Not specified
- Where the business may be based
- Goa
- The applicant must be a traditional clay idol maker or artisan based in Goa. - Registration as a clay idol manufacturer with GHRSSIDC is required. - Idols must be manufactured personally within Goa; imported or traded idols do not qualify. - A workshop or production unit located in Goa is necessary for manufacturing idols (for instance, Ganesh, Durga, Saraswati, Mother Mary). - The subsidy applies solely to idols meant for religious purposes; decorative items are excluded. - Records of idols produced and sold must be maintained, covering size, price, buyer details, and sale date. - Physical inspection by GHRSSIDC officials must be complied with.
How to apply
1. **Step 1: Procure the Application Form**: Applicants who wish to apply must either download and print the prescribed application format from the Goa Printing Press website, or collect it in person from GHRSSIDC, Craft Complex, Neugi Nagar, Panaji, North Goa, Goa - 403 001. A fee of ₹1/- per form applies for physical collection.
2. **Step 2: Fill Out the Application**: Complete every mandatory field in the application form and enclose copies of all documents required. Where necessary, ensure that each attached document carries a self-attestation.
3. **Step 3: File the Application**: Send the completed and signed application form, together with all supporting documents, to the Managing Director, GHRSSIDC Ltd., Panaji-Goa, making sure it reaches within the application period specified.
How applications are assessed
Once an application is received, GHRSSIDC officials visit the applicant's workshop in person. There they check the unit's production capacity and count the clay idols already on hand, with the artisan present during the count.
An Appraisal Committee then takes up the applications for review. Its members are the Chairman, the Managing Director, a nominated Director and a Government representative. Approvals are granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main objective of the Goa (Subsidy to Clay Idol Makers) Scheme?
The scheme provides subsidies to artisans in Goa's traditional clay idol cottage industry, which has declined amid competition from cheaper materials such as Plaster of Paris and polyfibre.
Who is eligible to apply for this subsidy?
Artisans in Goa who make traditional clay idols can apply, provided they are registered with GHRSSIDC as clay idol manufacturers, produce the idols themselves within Goa, and run a workshop or production unit in the state.
What is the subsidy amount provided per idol and the annual limit?
Under this scheme, artisans receive ₹100 per clay idol of at least 1 foot in size, subject to an annual ceiling of ₹15,000 per artisan.
How is the subsidy disbursed to the beneficiaries?
Once the Appraisal Committee approves the claim, GHRSSIDC issues the subsidy by cheque in the name of the registered artisan, but only after it receives the requisite funds from the Government. To obtain further releases, beneficiaries must keep sales records and file utilization certificates.
Are all types of idols eligible for the subsidy?
No. The subsidy applies only to idols made for religious use — for example Ganesh, Durga, Saraswati or Mother Mary for festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi or Christmas — and idols produced for decorative purposes do not qualify.
What documents are required for the application process?
Fill in the prescribed application form with every mandatory field completed, and attach self-attested copies of the documents sought, which usually cover identity proof, address proof, GHRSSIDC registration and workshop details.
Sectors
- Manufacturing Industrial
- Traditional Crafts
- Cottage Industry
- Artisans
- Handicrafts
- Goa
- Clay Idol Making
- Local Economy
Details last verified on 18 September 2026. Source: the issuer's published information.