Date:28/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/28/stories/2005012806830300.htm

Karnataka - Belgaum

Good rainfall boosts khadi sales

By Our Staff Correspondent

BELGAUM, JAN. 27. Good rainfall this year in many parts of the State has brought cheers to the khadi industry. The sales of khadi products has increased by 70 to 75 per cent throughout the State, said V.A. Balkundri, secretary, Khadi and Gram Udyog Sangh, Belgaum.

Mr. Balkundri and Gangappa Muddappa Malgi, sangh president, told presspersons here on Thursday that the drought had affected the khadi market. Yet the khadi industry provided employment to a large number of persons in rural areas which resulted in surplus production and piling up of stocks. To clear the stock, the Khadi and Gram Udyog Commission, Bangalore, and different associations are organising a two-week exhibition of khadi textile products in different parts of the State.

It will be organised at Kannada Sahitya Bhavan in Belgaum and inaugurated on Saturday. The commission has announced a rebate of 40 per cent on khadi textiles and garments only. Along with khadi products, homemade products, including food products, will be available for sale in the exhibition.

For the first time, a new range of khadi readymade designer garments will be introduced in this exhibition. So far this year, the turnover by all khadi associations in the State is about Rs. 47 crores. In Belgaum, the turnover is Rs. 5.50 crores.

Mr. Balkundri and Mr. Malgi praised the Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, for showing the political will to encourage khadi. The Belgaum Association got an order for Rs. 62 lakhs for supplying cloth for uniforms of Railway employees and bed sheets, they said.

"This shows that if a leader in power or the Government wants to do something good and has the political will to implement decisions, neglected sectors like khadi can get a boost," Mr. Balkundri said.