Date:18/01/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/01/18/stories/2004011804010300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

State promoting khadi industry: Minister

BANGALORE, JAN. 17. The turnover in khadi and related products had crossed Rs. 10,193 crore, much more than the turnover of the marketing giant, Hindustan Lever Ltd., the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Industries, Sanga Priya Gautam, said here today.

Speaking at the inauguration of Khadi Utsav-2004, the national-level Khadi and Village Industries Commission exhibition at Fort High School Grounds, Mr. Gautam said this made the KVIC the "number one" commercial organisation in the country, which had also notched up a 14.39 per cent increase in exports from last year.

The Minister for Forests, K.H. Ranganath, who read out the speech of the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, said the State Government had disbursed Rs. 111.21 crore in loans and aid to 18,702 khadi and rural industries in the State. Apart from this, 2,456 units had received Rs. 118.88 crore through cooperative banks.