Business

Slew of schemes to promote khadi

Thrissur: Union Minister for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Mahavir Prasad has said that the Union government will launch a slew of schemes to take khadi to every nook and corner of the country.

He was addressing a meeting to launch the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTHI) at the Thalappilly Khadi Cluster in Avinissery, near here, on Wednesday.

“The Union government wants to fulfil Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of using the charkha as a tool for development and economic independence. The MSME Ministry and the Khadi and Village Industries’ Commission (KVIC) plans to roll out schemes to help Dalits, rural women and economically backward sections of society. The Ministry is trying to secure more funds for the promotion of khadi. The Government has nothing against big industries. Small-scale industries, which employ countless people, should be promoted too,” he said.

Kumud Joshi, KVIC Chairperson and former Governor of Andhra Pradesh, urged the Union government to sanction more funds for promotion of khadi and other village industries.

“Promotion of village industries can change the face of the country by way of employment generation, economic independence for women, and rural development. I have seen examples of artisans making Rs. 11,000 each a month.

“Rural women can take to spinning. They can work from home and earn Rs. 3,000 a month,” Ms. Joshi said.

She stressed the need for more clusters in Kerala to produce muslin. “Muslin can be made only from a particular kind of cotton, native to Kerala and West Bengal. Muslin made of this cotton can compete with the fabric made in Dhaka, said to be the finest. Muslin is highly in demand in the international market,” she said.

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