Govt writes to UN agency to push khadi

After aggressively pushing khadi at home, the Narendra Modi government now wants to take the homespun cotton abroad.

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has written to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to use the traditional fabric in its field operations and camps.

“This not only provides convenience, comfort and health benefits to those that are displaced in alien lands, it also in the same breath supports self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods to millions of rural Indians who live by this heritage profession,” KVIC chairman VK Saxena has written to UNHCR chief Fillipo Grandi.

KVIC is a government-run body for the promotion of handloom and cottage industry.

By promoting khadi’s use in offices, hospitals, railways and airlines, the government has scripted a turnaround for the fabric closely associated with India’s freedom struggle. The image of Mahatma Gandhi sitting at a spinning wheel, or charkha, for long promoted khadi in the country.

Saxena said the UN agency could use khadi for tents and KVICs, blankets, carpets and clothing at its camps.

The UNHCR is yet to respond to the proposal.

“If the UNHCR agrees, KVIC is willing to provide khadi products at a cost that is as per the UN agency’s operational requirements,” Saxena said.

Not just fabric, KVIC has expanded into readymade garments, groceries and personal care as well. Modi has been promoting the fabric with the slogan “khadi for nation, khadi for fashion”. Government employees in seven states, including BJP-ruled Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, wear khadi to work at least once a week. KVIC’s annual turnover went up to ₹51, 997 crore in 2016-17 from ₹37,000 crore in 2015-16.

“Through our village industries, we have been able to generate 4.69 lakh jobs in 2016-17 across villages and urban centres,” Saxena said.