Gift only khadi products: PM Modi’s appeal to people

India

oi-Prakash KL

Ahmedabad,
Aug
27:
Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modi
appealed
to
the
people
of
the
country
to
gift
only
the
products
made
in
Khadi
Village
Industries
in
the
upcoming
festive
period.

“You
can
have
clothes
made
of
different
types
of
fabrics.
But
if
you
give
place
to
Khadi
in
that,
then
the
Vocal
for
Local
campaign
will
gain
momentum”,
the
Prime
Minister
said
at
Khadi
Utsav
at
the
Sabarmati
River
Front
in
Ahmedabad
on
Saturday.

Highlighting
the
benefits
of
Khadi,
the
Prime
Minister
said
that
it
is
an
example
of
sustainable
clothing,
eco-friendly
clothing
and
it
has
the
least
carbon
footprint.
There
are
many
countries
where
the
temperature
is
high,
Khadi
is
also
very
important
from
the
point
of
view
of
health.
Hence,
Khadi
can
play
a
huge
role
at
the
global
level.
He
said
this
in
sync
with
the
growing
trend
of
back
to
basic
and
sustainable
living
at
the
global
level.

The
Prime
Minister
said,
“History
bears
witness
that
a
thread
of
Khadi
became
the
force
of
freedom
movement,
it
broke
the
chains
of
slavery.” He
further
added
that
the
same
thread
of
Khadi
can
become
a
source
of
inspiration
to
fulfil
the
promise
of
a
developed
India
and
thereby
fulfilling
the
dream
of
a
self-reliant
India.
“A
traditional
strength
like
Khadi
can
take
us
to
new
heights”,
he
said.
This
Khadi
Utsav
is
an
effort
to
revive
the
spirit
and
history
of
the
freedom
movement
and
an
inspiration
to
achieve
the
resolutions
of
New
India,
he
added.

He
recalled
his
Panch-Prans
that
he
proclaimed
on
15th
August,
from
the
Red
Fort.
“At
this
holy
place,
on
the
banks
of
Sabarmati,
I
want
to
repeat
the
Pancha-Pranas.
First
–
the
great
goal
in
front
of
the
country,
the
goal
of
making
a
developed
India.
Second
–
the
complete
abandonment
of
the
slavery
mentality.
Third
–
taking
pride
in
our
heritage,
Fourth-
making
strong
efforts
to
increase
the
unity
of
the
nation,
and
Fifth-
civic
duty.
He
said
that
today’s
Khadi
Utsav
is
a
beautiful
reflection
of
the
‘Panch
Prans’.

The
Prime
Minister
dwelled
on
the
neglect
of
Khadi
in
the
period
after
independence.
“At
the
time
of
the
freedom
movement,
Khadi,
which
Gandhiji
made
the
symbol
of
the
country’s
self-respect,
was
infused
with
an
inferiority
complex
after
independence.
Because
of
this,
Khadi
and
the
village
industry
associated
with
Khadi
were
completely
destroyed.
This
condition
of
Khadi
was
very
painful,
especially
for
Gujarat”,
he
said.

He
expressed
pride
that
the
task
of
reviving
Khadi
took
place
on
the
land
of
Gujarat.
The
Prime
Minister
emphasised
the
pledge
by
the
Government
of
‘Khadi
for
Transformation’ to
‘Khadi
for
Nation,
Khadi
for
Fashion’.
He
said,
“We
started
spreading
the
Gujarat
success
experiences
across
the
country.”
The
problems
which
were
related
to
Khadi
across
the
country
were
resolved.
We
encouraged
countrymen
to
buy
Khadi
products.
The
Prime
Minister
also
acknowledged
the
contribution
of
women
in
the
process
of
revival
of
Khadi.
“Women
power
is
also
a
major
contributor
to
the
growing
strength
of
India’s
Khadi
industry.
The
spirit
of
entrepreneurship
is
ingrained
in
our
sisters
and
daughters.
The
proof
of
this
is
also
the
expansion
of
Sakhi
Mandals
in
Gujarat”,
he
added.
He
informed
that
in
the
last
8
years,
sales
of
Khadi
increased
four
times
and
for
the
first
time,
the
Khadi
and
Gramodyog
turnover
crossed
one
lakh
crore.
The
sector
created
1.75
crore
new
jobs
also.
He
said
that
the
financial
inclusion
schemes
like
Mudra
Yojana
are
boosting
entrepreneurship.

Chief
Minister
of
Gujarat,
Bhupendra
Patel,
Member
of
Parliament,
C
R
Patil,
State
Minister,
Harsh
Sanghvi
and
Jagdish
Panchal,
Mayor
of
Ahmedabad,
Kiritbhai
Parmar
and
Chairman
of
KVIC,
Manoj
Kumar
were
those
present
on
the
occasion.