Important Topics: Khadi - A Zero Carbon Footprint Industry

KhadiQuestion: The potential of Khadi as an instrument of poverty alleviation was recognised by our early planners. While the output and employment of Khadi and Village Industries have grown manifold during the last five decades, their role in the context of the new paradigm of development has been questioned. Discuss!

“Azadi ke phele Khadi for nation and Azadi ke baad Khadi for fashion”, these lines said by Hon’ble Prime Minister has its very essence lead since past. As a nation we have remained distinctly grooved to cultural and traditional ways of lives.

In 1920, mid of British imperialism in India, Gandhiji launched ‘khadi’, as a political weapon of nationalism within the swadeshi movement. By calling it ‘the livery of freedom’, he brought the eternal symbolism of self sufficiency to India. Khadi and Village productivity became a grand source of nationalism. Khadi became a symbol of peace and icon of our freedom and national existence based on the efforts and contribution of rural masses. Khadi is by far the largest rural productivity programme in world wherein 1000s of families directly reach their produce to consumers without the menace of middlemen.

Essentiality of Khadi


  • Over 5000 institution and more than 320 lakh micro enterprise forms the vast network machinery, implementing the objective of KVIC.

  • Khadi activity is predominantly women based and over 80% khadi artisans are women.

  • The sector generates over Rs. 40,000 crore turnover, out of which 40% flows back under khadi activities to rural communities as livelihood support.

  • At a time now, when world is talking about ill effects of climate change due to synthetic textile industries, the khadi sector which is hand spun, hand woven, using no electricity in production is the basis for India to establish it on world stage as a zero carbon footprint industry.

  • Synthetic textile industry is one of the largest greenhouse gas emitter, amounting to about 1/20th of total carbon produced and therefore khadi can became a yarn of future.

Initiatives by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)


KVIC was established as statutory body by Government of India under KVIC Act, 1956. It is a tribute to power of self sufficiency that built a nation.
1. “One yarn, one Nation”
– Under this tagline KVIC organised a one month national Khadi Exhibition from 5th May to 4th June 2016 in Srinagar-showcasing products made by 198 Khadi Institutions from all over the country.
2. KVIC appointed international fashion designer Mr. Ritu Bai as Advisor to commission so that state of art multi fashion design can be made on khadi garments and promoting it in country as abroad.
3. World`s largest charkha [30 feet long, 17 feet tall, 9 feet wide] made of Burma teak, installed by KVIC at T-3, IGI Airport, where millions of people all over the world can pause and appreciate its historic symbolism for India.
4. One of the main mission of KVIC is employment generation in rural areas and over 2 million opportunities have been created under PMEGP (Pradhan Mantri Employment Generation Programme) which will further help in halting the rural migration.
5. KVIC also wishes to utilise solar energy to run weaving units thereby reducing dependence of physical labour.

With this background, KVIC has an onerous responsibility of engaging the poorer and rural masses in productive employment. Bringing insurance to weavers, including them in reliable network of health services, enhancing educational capacity and getting their efforts a global recognisation is most coveted objective of KVIC.

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