Khadi denim & T-shirts re-invented to boost khadi sale

With a view to boosting the sale of traditional Khadi, the government has re-invented it in the form of `Khadi denim’ and `T-shirts’ to make it more competitive in the apparel market which is now 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 pitchforked to international fashion shows around the globe where people have `fallen 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 into people’s wardrobe. There has been 69 per cent increase in the sale of khadi. With the proposed rebate (sale in Khadi Gramodyog) around the cornor, the sale figure is likely to go north,” he said.

The Khadi Gramodyog offers hefty sale from October 2 – the birth anniversary of Mahatama Gandhi - who popularized Khadi. He used khadi as a tool to fight against the British and made khadi-producing 'charkha', a symbol of the Indian non-violent freedom movement. 

The experiment with Khadi denim started in 2011, when a Rajkot-based Saurashtra Rachnatmak Samiti (SRS) introduced khadi-denim in the market and the Arvind Mills was also roped in to start production at commercial level.

“The Khadi Gramodyog will go on its own. Top designers of the country have been engaged to give a new shape to khadi denim. Besides, experts from NIFT have been roped in to come up with trendy designs,” he said.

He said that the MSME department has emerged as the game changer for rural 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 emphasizes on enhancement of productivity, competitiveness and create an eco-system of world class manufacturing,” Mishra said.

Besides, the department will set up job mela at various places, one of which will be held in Gorakhpur nextmonth and an estimated 9000 people will be given job opportunity. 

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 on the support that the MSME is getting from state governments, Mishra quipped: “I am getting help from all state governments. Even the UP government has helped us in a big way.”