In a move to multiply production, sale and employment, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), through its ‘Sahyog’ programme on Saturday, had given 45 charkhas to tribal women at Omkareshwar to start Khadi activities in the Narmada valley areas of Madhya Pradesh. The tribal women rocked on the ramp walk after the inaugural function, leaving the audience spellbound with their confidence.
After inaugurating the centre, KVIC chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena said that it is a new beginning in Narmada valley. The KVIC would provide looms and more Charkhas to create employment in remote areas.
“Our priorities have always been to create maximum number of jobs for the womenfolk of Narmada valley areas. In my last visit to Onkareshwar, I had promised to open a Khadi production centre to provide better job opportunities for the women of this area. The new centre is equipped with 45 charkhas and 60 trained artisans, with adequate training and remuneration. Malwa Bheel Sewak Sangh, a financially-aided institution of KVIC, has been assigned to run this centre,” he said.
“We are trying to engage the youths in this sector for formation and innovation of Khadi institutions, besides implementing the target and incentives relating to Khadi production set by the Ministry.”
Comparing women artisans as the spinal cord of the Khadi industry, Saxena further said that it was the sheer determination of the women artisans that Khadi had been achieving new milestones every day. “The all 45 women artisans, after imparting proper training, have virtually become a role model for the other tribal women. Keeping in mind the continuous demand of more charkhas, we have asked the running agency to increase the capacity of Charkhas to 100, which will soon be done,” he said.
Saxena went onto add that he was impressed by the kind of confidence the tribal women displayed on ramp walk. Since the Narmada Valley has immense flora and fauna, KVIC has decided to launch bee-keeping programme here soon, to increase the job opportunities and income avenues for the locals here, he said.
“We are leaving no stone unturned to take Khadi to new heights across the globe, with the mission of our PM Narendra Modiji and the determination of our adroit artisans,” he further added.