KVIC gives a call to the unemployed youths of the NE region to take up it’s the various schemes, instead of looking for govt. jobs.

Sandeep Banerjee

The Khadi and Village Industry Commission (KVIC) organized a North-East zonal level Khadi Gramadyog exhibition at Guwahati recently with a view to promote Khadi products. The idea was to give Khadi a new look to make it more appealing.

Through this exhibition, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission gave a call to the unemployed youths of the North-Eastern region to come forward to take up the various schemes offered by the KVI programme in this region instead of looking for government jobs which is becoming more elusive day by day.

S. N. Patil, director KVIC, said that the government is giving emphasis on rural employment generation programme (REGP) in this region with an aim to generate employment in the rural sector and strengthen the rural economy. Mr. Patil also informed that KVIC has roped NIFT and NID for inventing new designs.

Deputy CEO, KVIC said that the commission has taken various initiatives to increase khadi production, institutions, training centres, sales outlets and more REFP units, as well as special package of North-East region under REGP. Assam has the highest number of KVIC units among the North-Eastern states.

The exhibition organized by the Commissioner for Khadi and Village Industries, Ministry of ARI, Government of India and participated by over hundred rural entrepreneurial units, KVI institutions, NGOs from all       North-Eastern states, besides some KVI units from outside the zone   like Uttar Pradesh. It was the third zonal level khadi exhibition held in this region. The artisans, weavers and entrepreneurs who participated in the exhibition believed that    khadi products are increasingly becoming popular among people, especially the younger generation. They believed that this has happened due to the use of vibrant colours, radiant texture and modern design. They also pointed out that this increasing popularity of khadi has encouraged artisans and weavers to strive harder.

Subadami Devi, assistant development officer of Manipur KVIC said that the sale of khadi products has risen by 20 to 30 per cent during the last three years. Madan Das a member and also an employee of Barkhetri Unnayan Samiti said that the sale of khadi products has increased with the introduction of new designs and new looks. “Last year we did a good business of 75 lakhs,” he informed. Last year a new scheme called Prodip was also launched.

Danesh Chowdhury, a rural entrepreneur from Nagaland under KVIC scheme was participating for the third time in this zonal  exhibition. He is a Rashtrapati Award winner this year for effectively promoting khadi products. He also felt that the very outlook of the people towards khadi has drastically changed in the last few years towards the good. Adapting to the modern needs and demands were the main reason attributed by this successful entrepreneur for the upswing in the popularity of khadi products.   

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