The introduction of higher and multi-dimensional innovation in the Khadi sector by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has scripted a major success story as the signature fabric of India has made an average jump of 37.1 per cent in Khadi fabric production in the last four years, i.e. from 103.22 million square meters to 141.52 million square meters.
The increase of 39.30 million square meters happened after the KVIC encouraged the registration of new Khadi Institutions and started artisan-centric programmes including distribution of 31,000 New Model Charkhas and 5,600 modern looms since 2015.
During this span of time, Khadi has rolled 376 new Khadi institutions and added 38,684 new Khadi artisans. This has resulted in an average jump of 61 percent in Khadi fabric production's share with respect to the mills' fabric production - in the last four years .
As per the website of Ministry of Textiles, in the fiscal 2013-14, the mill sector fabric production was 2,531 million square meters. On the other hand, as per KVIC's Audit Report, the Khadi sector fabric production during the same fiscal was 103.22 million square meters - which was a bit higher than 4 percent of the overall production.
Interestingly, after four years, i.e. financial year 2017-18 — the production tally witnessed a steep jump of 38.30 million square meters (average jump of 37.10 percent) in Khadi sector fabric production. In the fiscal 2017-18, while the mill sector fabric production was 2, 157 million square meters, the Khadi sector fabric production was 141.52 million square meters — which was more than 6.5 percent share of the overall fabric production in the country. And, it indicates that a growth 61 percent in Khadi sector fabric production's share since 2015.
Explaining the factors behind this success story, KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena said, "First and foremost, this steep rise in Khadi sector fabric production is due to the repeated appeals of Prime Minister Narendra Modi — to adopt Khadi. And then, the credit goes to the Ministry of MSME, who outlined and implemented many policies and programmes — to attract the artisans — basically the back-bone of Khadi sector."
Saxena further said that the numbers of artisans are progressively increasing in the Khadi sector because of the new policies and initiative taken by the KVIC in the recent years.