Country’s only flag-making unit, Karnataka Khadi Gramodyog Samyukta Sangh (KKGSS) at Bengeri in Hubli of north Karnataka has sold Tricolours worth Rs 1 crore this year.
The surge in sales of flags is largely attributed to the Government’s directive to all the three-tier Panchayat Raj institutions to hoist the flag throughout the year come as a relief to hundreds of employees in this organisation. The ban on plastic flags has also surged the sales and the society hopes to reach a record sale figure of Rs 2 crore in this fiscal.
KKGSS is the only flag making unit in the country which has been certified by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to manufacture the Tricolour in nine different sizes ranging from 14x21 feet to 4x6 feet. The biggest flags manufactured by KKGSS were hoisted at three places - Gwalior Fort, Shivaji Fort in Kolhapur and Nargund Fort in Karnataka. The KKGSS manufactured Tricolor is supplied across the country and also to Indian Embassies in other countries. The Sangh has been providing full-time employment to about 100 workers and shelter to about 1,200 people, who work at 24 villages in Bagalkot district. It has provided a
platform to sell products manufactured by villagers.
The production process begins with the collection of khadi cloth and other raw materials from units situated in Tulasigeri and Jalihal villages in Bagalkot. Workers ensure that there are no defects in the material and they have the required number of threads per centimetre.
later, around 45 specialists bleach and dye the cloth. The sangh also manufactures khadi pocket flags of 2x3 inches that can be pinned to one’s clothes. These pocket flags are purchased by several organisations in bulk.
This khadi society was established by a group of freedom fighters — Venkatesh Magadi, DG Mattikoppa, HA Pai, Anant Bhat and BJ Gokhale — who wanted to create a federation to cater to the needs and growth of khadi and other village industries.
According to honorary secretary of the society HN Antin, the society was expected a record turnover this fiscal and hopes to sell more flags. According to him, the entire exercise of production of Tricolor right from the spinning to toggling, weaving and bleaching, dying , stitching chakra printing were done by hand using the skilled and trained manpower.