Promoting khadi: UP govt to push for online markets, distribute solar charkhas, rope in fashion designers
With an aim to promote the sale of fabrics made of khadi, the Uttar Pradesh government is set to launch a slew of measures like using digital marketing and acquiring talent from the country's premier fashion institutes. More details here.
गाँव कनेक्शन 20 April 2022 4:03 PM GMT
There are 14 government centres of Khadi in different districts of the state. The old looms in these centres will soon be replaced by new solar looms.
In a bid to promote khadi and benefit weavers in the state, the Uttar Pradesh government stated today, on April 20, that a host of measures shall be undertaken to provide impetus to the cottage industry.
According to a press release issued by the state government, an estimated 25,000 farmers and weavers will be benefitted by the action plan devised under the Pandit Deendayal Khadi Marketing Development Assistance Scheme in a course of five years.
"It is expected that these efforts of the government will increase the demand for khadi. In order to increase the demand, the government will also emphasise marketing along with making Khadi in line with fashion by increasing the range. For this, the products of Khadi and village industries will be linked to the e-commerce platform," the press release stated.
Navneet Sehgal, the additional chief secretary of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission was quoted as saying in the press release that the industry associated with it can be set up with minimum structure, with less capital and less risk.
"It is the most employable sector at the local level in terms of capital. Most of the women do the work of making yarn. Therefore, by making them (farmers and weavers) self-sufficient, this mission is also helpful in empowering them," Sehgal was quoted.
The statement stated that in order to enhance the beauty of Khadi clothes by giving them an attractive look, the 'government will take the help of eminent fashion designers of the country and its related organizations (NIFT)'.
It also mentioned that 'solar charkhas' will be distributed on a large scale which will basically function as looms powered by solar energy.
"Those who will be given these charkhas will also be given the training to operate them. Overall, the department has set a target of distributing 5000 solar charkhas in the next five years. This will not only improve the quality of the threads but also increase production," it stated.
The press statement informed that there are 14 government centres of Khadi in different districts of the state. The old looms in these centres will soon be replaced by new solar looms.
"The government has also prepared a complete action plan in this regard for the next five years," the statement informed.
