With a view to club two favourites of Mahatma Gandhi, cleanliness and khadi, ahead of his 150th Birthday on October 2 this year, the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to purchase customised khadi uniform sets from the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), for its 4,000 men and women sanitation workers.
The PMC would be next week signing a three-year-agreement with KVIC for supply of khadi and village industries products.
On June 19 this year, the PMC Commissioner Anupam Kumar Suman had requested KVIC Chairman VK Saxena to provide Khadi uniform sets for its workers sanitation workers.
later, the PMC placed an order for 30 for the supply of Khadi uniform including 8,000 sets of shirt and pant (for men), 8,000 sets of salwar kurta (for women), 4,000 pairs of sandals, 4,000 pairs of shoes/boots and 4000 pieces of cap, by August 15 this year.
Besides, the PMC has also signed a three-year agreement with KVIC for a regular supply of materials, including the supply of woolen Khadi clothes during the winter season.
“To me, it is the fittest tribute to the Father of Nation ahead of his 150th Birthday celebrations from Bihar - a land of Champaran from where he kicked off his journey as Mahatma - to have a unique conversion with a local self body. The value of this order, approximately RRs 2 crore, is immaterial with respect to Khadi being attire of safai karmacharis - one of the most lovable lots of Mahatma Gandhi since his Phoenix days in South Africa,” said the KVIC chairman.
He said it was important that Khadi has started getting recognition from all corners of the nation. Not only that, the safai karmacharis are the lowest yet most important part of local self bodies - the arch of decentralised administration.”