7,500 solar spinning wheels to be distributed to khadi samitis on Oct 2

LUCKNOW: The Yogi government is all set to distribute about 7,500 solar spinning wheels (charkhas) to khadi samitis on October 2. The move comes under a new khadi policy, in which subsidy will only be given to those artisans who use solar spinning wheels.

Around 300 khadi samitis are registered with the khadi ministry of the state government.

Each of these samitis will get 25 solar charkhas as part of the state government’s initiative to promote use of solar power.

State khadi and village industries minister Satyadev Pachauri said here on Monday that the government would distribute solar charkhas on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

“Promoting khadi is on the priority list of the state government. The government wants to empower artisans weaving khadi fabric,” Pachauri said.

“Now, we have decided to distribute solar charkhas to artisans. This will help them improve their productivity and enhance their income manifold,” said Pachauri.

The minister also informed that the government had decided to extend subsidy only to those khadi samitis and artisans who used solar charkhas.

According to experts, handoperated spinning wheels time consuming and artisans have to toil to prepare khadi fabric. But solar charkhas will revolutionise the industry in many ways.

A big solar spinning wheel, with a capacity of 32-spindle, can produce 5 kg yarn in eight hours, which is not possible with a hand-operated charkha.

The khadi ministry has already entered into an agreement with Amazon, an e-tailor giant, to sell khadi products. Around 42 khadi products are available on Amazon.

The khadi ministry is also planning to provide three-year interest-free loan to small traders in villagers to promote rural economy.

The project under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana has been framed to augment income of villagers.

The Modi government has also set its focus on rural economy and has promised to increase income of villagers.