Khadi commission offers new lifeline to weavers, artisans

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has come up with a new scheme to support around 200 khadi institutions across the country.

The scheme for enhancing productivity and competitiveness of khadi industry and artisans envisages providing comprehensive support to around 200 Khadi institutions over 5 years. The scheme will provide need-based support to Khadi at all levels namely production, distribution, promotion and capacity building.

RS Pandey, state director, KVIC Lucknow, said: “Of the 200 institutions short-listed for the scheme, 40 are in Uttar Pradesh. Ten institutions will be taken up for the current fiscal.”

The areas identified include Gandhi ashram- Sitapur, Gram Sewa sansthan and other empanelled institutions across Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Meerut and Varanasi.

The targeted beneficiaries of the scheme include spinners, weavers, pre-weaving artisans, washer men, dyers and printers, workers of the khadi institutions and common service providers engaged in the khadi industry.

“Khadi, the fabric of freedom, has been a source of livelihood for a large number of spinners, weavers and other artisans spread across the country living in the rural as well as urban areas. Though, handcrafted is the USP of Khadi, use of appropriate technological implements plays a vital role in achieving better productivity and quality besides reducing drudgery,” he added.

The support under the scheme will encompass hard as well as soft components namely, production infrastructure, value addition, design & development, market promotion, capacity building and also support for techno-managerial man power.

The institutions implementing the scheme will receive support to the extent of Rs 42 lakh for total transformation at the institution level.