Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday tweeted his appeal to buy khadi and promote khadi and help the poor earn a livelihood.
Modi posted on twitter, "On Gandhi Jayanti, I appeal to all, let's 'Buy Khadi, Promote Khadi' & help Daridra Narayan earn livelihood." Khadi industry in Gujarat, Mahatma Gandhi's home state, has seen a drop in levels of employment. Gandhi had envisaged the industry would evolve as a major employment generator for the poor in the country.
Gujarat State Socio-Economic Review 2011-12 shows that employment in the sector has dipped by around 27% in 2010-11 from the previous fiscal, Business Standard had reported on Monday. Net employment in the sector in the state was 12,136 people in 2009-10, which went down to 8,883 people in 2010-11. Khadi production in the state is also on the decline. During 2009-10, khadi worth Rs 26.47 crore was produced. In 2010-11, the production was down to Rs 25.06 crore. During the same period, sales declined from Rs 36.15 crore to Rs 34.54 crore
Speaking on the occassion of Gandhi Jayanti, Modi today asked people to buy khadi for self and family in large quantities in order to help the artisans in the industry to earn their livelihood. He posted the same message on twitter.com as well.
He recalled how Gandhi had envisioned khadi as a philosophy to economically empower millions of poor in the country. "Each person should buy at least one pair of khadi dress as the best possible tribute to the Mahatma", the chief minister said. The special rebate given on purchase of khadi starting on October 2 every year has been extended this year too in order to promote buying.
