Khadi organisations oppose centre’s ‘anti-khadi’ policies

JAIPUR:Around It’s (khadi) a network for social transformation and rural uplift, but governments today see it only as a business.

BAL VIJAY, Convenor of the Khadi Mission

180 khadi organisations in Rajasthan have decided to boycott the financial assistance given by the central government as a mark of protest “against the anti-khadi policies that are driving people away from the sector”.

The organisations under the banner of Rajasthan Khadi Gramudhyog Sanstha Sangh will not avail the modified market development assistance (MMDA) from April 1, 2018, as they are “feeling harassed by the government policies”. The BJP government in 2016 introduced the MMDA scheme, under which changes have been made in the policy, which the sangh representatives say are against those employed in the sector.

There are around 1.25 lakh people involved in the khadi sector in the state.

Girdhari Kukana of the Khadi Mandi in Bikaner said that other changes introduced by the centre are also causing several problems. “The government has made it mandatory for the spinners and weavers to be paid through cheques instead of cash,” he said.

“Most of the spinners are women based in western Rajasthan. They are old and illiterate and cannot travel to the banks that are often located far from their homes to collect ₹150 they get as wages. They have to take someone as witness along with them for identification. So, the women don’t want to open bank accounts,” he said.

Jawaharlal Sethia, secretary of the Rajasthan Khadi Gram Udyog Sanstha Sangh, said a commission appointed by the central government to look into the problems of spinners had recommended that payment should be made in cash.

The commission also noted that the women would have to maintain a minimum balance of ₹1,000 to ₹3,000, which was not possible for them, as they earned only around ₹300 to ₹500 per month. “Due to these difficulties, the women are slowly moving away from this work,” he added.

The decision to boycott the MMDA from April 1, 2018, was taken at a meeting of 300 khadi organisations from India, in Wardha, Maharashtra.

Sawai Singh, president of the Samagra Sewa Sangh, said ₹62 crore is pending with the Rajasthan government as payment to the various khadi organisations.