The financial year 2014-15 might be an ‘employment generation year’ for Jharkhand artists associated with Khadi products.
Jainandu, chairperson of Jharkhand State Khadi Gram Udyog Board is planning to promote the employment opportunities of artisans involved with Khadi affairs right from the panchayat to district level across the State. Talking to The Pioneer at the ongoing National Khadi and Saras Mela in Morhabadi, Ranchi he praised the efforts of State Government to take State Khadi Board at the top position in India.
You are representing Khadi board at both state and central platforms since a long time. Tell us your experience.
Khadi marketing of Jharkhand is doing well at national as well as global perspective. The forest produced lac, turmeric and karanch of Jharkhand is of good quality. Khadi board as a single organization cannot work on all the development initiatives. Regular cooperation of all the Government departments is required for smooth functioning of this board, especially in the State.
How is Jharkhand Khadi Gram Udyog unique from other statesIJ
In our nation, farmers are unable to get loan below Rs 50,000 from banks. As per norms, banks cannot give loan below this mentioned amount. To manage this finance, Jharkhand is the only state distributing tool kits at 90 per cent grant to men and women at our rural and urban training centres. This includes sewing machines and spinning wheels. We are probably the only board wherein the President, Governor and Union Ministers have inaugurated the programmes that were organised on behalf of us.
Khadi board is known to be rural friendly organisation. What all steps are you taking to connect the State villagers with this boardIJ
We have already connected 60,000 people with Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme. About 12,000 to 18,000 villagers are receiving their payment through online banking. Also, we are trying to implement all the Khadi Udyog related government schemes in the rural areas by March 31, 2014. Hopefully, the next financial year will benefit our artisans with employment opportunities.
What is new in this Khadi and Saras FairIJ
I wanted visitors to utilise their time here by availing the basic necessities of Government apart from shopping. So, it is for the first time people are getting one-stop fair to enroll in Aadhaar card processing and Voter ID. The residents can apply for water supply connection through our Ranchi Municipal Corporation Stall. Free check up facilities for health ailments like blood pressure is available here. Mobile ATM facility is also available.