Odisha Khadi and Village Industries Board Chairman Tejeswar Parida on Friday said the board has decided to revive village industries in the State and the decision would be implemented first on pilot basis in Kendrapada district, his home turf.
Parida said this while addressing a Press meet at the Collectorate here. He said he has already made a plan and has directed all the BDOs of the district to give details about the village industries in their respective block areas.
He also informed that the district administration has been asked to provide outlet spaces for opening of Khadi and Village Industry centres for promoting khadi and agro-based products.
Stating that lack of marketing system is a major problem for the village industries, he said Bhubaneswar-based two premier institutions, KIIT School of Rural Management and XIMB Rural management, have been consulted to curb the problem.
Parida asked the district-level officers to take steps to settle Khadi and Village Industries cases like restoration of encroached land and recovery of loan amounts soon.
He informed that exclusive counters would be opened in Bhubaneswar airport so that tourists coming from outside the State and abroad can have access to the State’s Khadi and Gramodyoga products.
Confessing that transparency has not been maintained properly in the selection of beneficiaries under the PMGP schemes, Parida assured that he would take best possible steps to promote and familarise khadi and agro-based products. For this, the district-level Khadi centres would be revived and more cenres would be set up in different districts. He said the board would provide all the dhoti and sarees for the deities in the Baladevjew temple during the upcoming car festival.