In poll-bound West Bengal, last Saturday as many as 1,650 artisan families in  Murshidabad took a stride towards self-sustainability by embracing various self-employment schemes of khadi.

KVIC Chairman VK Saxena distributed 825 new model charkhas, 50 silk charkhas, 235 modern looms, 120 Reeling Basins and 95 readymade garment machines to artisans engaged with Khadi spinning and weaving activities. The KVIC Chairman also distributed 80 electric potter wheels and other equipment to marginalised potters in Murshidabad under the flagship Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana of KVIC.

Distribution of charkha, looms and sewing machines aims at strengthening the local Cotton and Silk industry in Murshidabad which has a glorious history of producing exquisite fabric like Muslin Cotton and Mulberry and Tussar Silk. The KVIC has disbursed Rs 20 crore to strengthen 23 Khadi Institutions engaged with production of khadi in Murshidabad.

The development came  a day after the KVIC’s massive employment drive in Malda where 2250 beneficiaries were distributed advanced tools. The employment activities rolled out in West Bengal will boost the Hon’ble Prime minister’s call for “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” and “Vocal for Local”.

Distribution of electric potter wheels also aims at empowering the potters’ community and reviving the dying art of pottery. The potters have been distributed equipment after successfully completing 15-days of training.

The KVIC Chairman said empowering 1650 rural artisan families on the Martyr’s Day on January 30 was the biggest tribute to the Father of the Nation as this would go on to strengthen Indian villages. “Gandhi ji was the embodiment of Khadi. For him Khadi was not just fabric but a tool of self-sustainability. Rural resurgence through Khadi was the dream of Mahatma Gandhi and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is striving to fulfill that dream. There could not be a better way to pay tribute to Gandhi ji than empowering 1650 rural artisans on the Martyr’s Day,” Saxena said.

He said providing jobs to every hand is the vision of the Prime Minister and in the last 5 years, KVIC has spent more than `200 crore to strengthen Khadi institutions and artisans in West Bengal.