Yogi Adityanath adopts Gujarat model to boost Khadi

The Yogi Adityanath government has adopted the Gujarat model to boost Khadi based manufacturing and sale in Uttar Pradesh.

Khadi promotion is aimed at not only spurring low level manufacturing in the state, but also create fresh job opportunities.

In this regard, the Yogi cabinet today replicated the Gujarat model and decided to increase the subsidy on the sale of Khadi products from 10 percent to 15 percent. However, the incentive would be available only if the Khadi is manufactured within the state.

The subsidy, to be reimbursed through direct benefit transfer, would be equally divided between the weavers/spinners, manufacturer and marketer, he informed.

“UP is basically a consumer state, but we also need to strive towards giving impetus to the manufacturing sector,” UP health minister and spokesperson Siddharth Nath Singh said here this afternoon.

Earlier, a team of Khadi department officials had toured Gujarat to study their model with regards to the branding, promotion and marketing of Khadi products. Apart from Gujarat officials, it had also interacted with the Khadi manufacturers and vendors.

After coming to power, the Yogi government has been working towards according a modern makeover to Khadi for the benefit of all stakeholders, especially those at the lowest ladder in the value chain.

For smartly marketing Khadi, the UP Khadi and Gramudyog department has already drafted a blueprint to position UP Khadi as an exclusive brand in the domestic market along with a distinct logo and identify.

The department also plans to tie up with prominent design and fashion institutes for the purpose. Besides, the Khadi units would be upgraded through targetted training and skilling workshops to introduce them to modern technologies and contemporary fashion trends and designs.

“We would collaborate with top fashion designers to handhold UP based Khadi units and up-skill the artisans,” Khadi principal secretary Navneet Sehgal had earlier told Business Standard.

At the same time, the department would tie up with e-commerce majors viz. Amazon and Flipkart to sell Khadi products on line and at the same time establish UP Khadi as a distinct brand.

Besides, state and national level exhibitions would be organised to promote indigenous Khadi products.

The state would leverage schemes of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) for speedy implementation. KVIC is mandated for the planning, promotion, organisation and implementation of various programmes for the development of Khadi and other village industries in coordination with other state agencies engaged in rural development.