CM to disburse loan of ₹150 crore to khadi artisans

LUCKNOW: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath will disburse a loan of ₹150 crore to khadi artisans in the first four-day Khadi Mahotsav starting here from December 6. In the inaugural ceremony, union minister for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Giriraj Singh will also be present.

At the four-day fest, two technical sessions and a three-day exhibition will be organised at the Indira Gandhi Prathisthan in Gomti Nagar. “The chief minister will distribute a loan worth ₹150 crore to khadi artisans at the first Khadi Mahotsav. On the occasion, interest levied on loan defaulters, who have availed the loan facility earlier, will also be waived,” said Satyadev Pachauri, UP minister for khadi and MSME, here on Monday.

On the occasion, solar charkhas will also be distributed to the artisans and an MoU will also be signed between the state government and NABARD for providing training to artisans on how to operate solar charkhas.

At the mahotsav, a khadi fashion show will also be organised. “A khadi fashion show will be organised in association with the NIFT, Rae Bareli, and models will display clothes made of khadi,” said Navneet Sehgal, principal secretary, khadi and village industries.

Sehgal also informed that six defunct blanket manufacturing units across the state would also be made operational.