With a view to boost sale of traditional Khadi the government has re-invented it in form of RsKhadi denim’ and RsT-shirts’ to make it more competitive in an apparel market flooded with national and international brands.
“We have re-introduced Khadi denim and it is a big hit with the young generation. Khadi has been taken to international fashion shows around the globe where people have Rsfallen in love’ with it,” Union Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) minister Kalraj Mishra told The Pioneer.
“No one can believe the way Khadi has made its way in people’s wardrobe. There has been 69 per cent increase in sale of khadi in last three months. With proposed rebate (sale in Khadi Gramodyog) round the cornor this sale figure is likely to go up,” he said.
The Khadi Gramodyog offers hefty sale from October 2 – birth anniversary of Father of Nation Mahatama Gandhi - who has popularized Khadi. Gandhi used khadi as a tool to fight against the British rule and made the khadi-producing ‘charkha’ a symbol of the Indian non-violent freedom movement.
Mishra said that sale of khadi has got a boost after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s last RsMaan ki Baat’ where he had asked people to use khadi. There was 100 per cent increase in sale in Khadi Bhawan in New Delhi. The response from other states is also encouraging, he said.
The experiment with Khadi denim started in 2011 when a Rajkot-based Saurashtra Rachnatmak Samiti (SRS) introduced khadi-denim in the market. Arvind Mill was also roped in to start production at commercial level.
“The Khadi Gramodyog will go of its own. Top designers of the country have been engaged to give a new shape to khadi denim. Besides the experts from NIFT have been roped in to give trendy designs,” he said.
He said the MSME department has emerged as the game changer for the village economy. It has opened job opportunities for the youth and has opened window of opportunity for the skilled people as Mudra Banks will help small enterprises to access loans at cheaper rate.
“Small traders would get hassle free loans up to Rs 50,000. The loan given by bank is high causing anxiety to small entrepreneurs. But this loaning from Mudra bank is interest free,” he said.
Mishra said that the MUDRA Bank established by Prime Minister Narendra Modi aims at the financial inclusion of the micro and small units by making available loan at at cheaper rates to those running small enterprises. This will play a major role to achieve ‘Make in India’ objectives.
“Empowerment of MSME will be a key to the successful implementation of ‘Make in India’ which lays emphasis on enhancement of productivity, competitiveness and create an eco-system of world class manufacturing,” the minister said.
Besides this the department will set up job mela at various places. One of the job fairs will be held next month in Gorakhpur where job opportunity would be given to estimated 9000 people. Big companies have been asked to join hands with MSME not only to train the skilled workers as per their need but also to absorb them in their companies.
To a query about support MSME getting from State Governments, Mishra quipped: “I am getting help from all state governments. Even the Uttar Pradesh Government has helped us in a big way.”