Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday said Khadi not only symbolizes craftsmanship of Indian artisans but was a thought propagated by Mahatma Gandhi.

The Mahatma viewed Khadi as a symbol of self-reliance and used it as a powerful weapon during the freedom struggle.

The Chief Minister said this while addressing a gathering of weavers, craftsmen and visitors at a 10-day ‘Saras’ fair organized by the Department of Khadi and Village Industries at Chhattisgarh Haat Bazar, Pandri.

He honoured Chhattisgarh’s weavers and craftsmen who he said have done excellent work in their respective craft.

“Mahatma Gandhi envisioned Gram Swaraj to promote and conserve local hand-made products. Treading ahead on the same path of self-reliance of Gandhiji, we are also making efforts to enhance the skills of our artisans and weavers by providing them proper training and product selling platforms like C-Mart to support rural craftsmanship”, he said.

He said that weavers, craftsmen and artisans were being given better employment opportunities by setting up small enterprises in rural industrial parks established under Gauthan scheme.

The Chief Minister said the Mukhyamantri Silk Project had been started this year. Under the scheme, 1,000 women will be identified and trained in cocoon threading.

Village Industries Minister Guru Rudra Kumar, Chairman of Khadi and Village Industries Board, Rajendra Tiwari, Advisor to Chief Minister Pradeep Sharma also addressed the programme.