Assam govt to gift khadi clothes to its staff

GUWAHATI: THE STATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES WILL BE ASKED TO WEAR KHADI CLOTHES TO THEIR OFFICES AT LEAST

ONCE EVERY MONTH

Paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary, the Assam government announced on Monday that it would gift two pieces of khadi clothing to its employees annually.

Men will get two shirts and women two sarees under the scheme, which was announced by Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during a function here.

The scheme will cover over 4 lakh state government employees and is likely to cost the exchequer nearly ₹12 crores each year. A provision of ₹5 crores for the proposed plan has already been included in the state’s annual budget.

The khadi clothes will be distributed among government employees on April 14 next year, which coincides with beginning of the Assamese new year.

Sarma told the gathering that government employees will be asked to wear khadi garments to their offices at least once every month. Sarma stated that the BJP-led coalition in the state was also mulling introducing khadi uniform for students in government schools and educational institutes.

During the programme organised by the Assam Khadi and Village Industries Board, the minister announced a grant of ₹25 crores for the board in order to promote khadi use. Sarma, who is also the health minister in the Sarbananda Sonowal government, advocated the use of khadi as bed linen and curtains in government hospitals in Assam.