The second wave of COVID-19 put a severe disruption to manufacturing and service sectors between March and May this year, still, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) have set a benchmark with purchase orders worth over Rs. 45 crore.
This increase in the purchase orders of khadi products, which come from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Indian Railways and Air India, will support the livelihood of lakhs of Khadi artisans.
Ministries uplifting the livelihood f Khadi artisans amidst COVID-19
The MoU between KVIC and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the purchase of 6.38 lakh meter of poly Khadi fabric for Tribal students was extended to 8.46 lakh meter fabric, worth Rs.20.60 crore, in April 2021.
Henceforth, this order has been distributed among several Khadi Institutions in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana.
The Ministry of Railway has placed purchase orders worth Rs.19.50 crore to KVIC between April and May 2021. The purchase orders are going to benefit all artisans who are registered with over 100 Khadi Institutions across the country and are engaged in the production of specialized material like sheeting cloth, towels, bedsheets, flag banner, sponge cloths, Dosuti Cotton Khadi, bunting clothes etc. The material will be supplied during June and July 2021.
Moreover, Air India, too, will purchase 1.10 lakh amenity kits worth Rs.4.19 crore for its executive and business class international passengers.
Khadi industry fullfilling the dream of AatmaNirbhar Bharat
Even though the aviation sector was majorly hit by the second wave of COVID-19, the fresh supply order issued in the month of April were made bringing huge relief to the whole artisan community involved in manufacturing Khadi products.
The Khadi amenity kit ordered by Air India consists of premium herbal cosmetic products like Khadi hand sanitiser, Khadi moisturizer lotion, Khadi lemongrass oil, Khadi handmade soap, khadi lip balm, Khadi rose face wash, essential oils, etc. that are manufactured by small village industry units.
“Such large orders in these testing times of the Covid-19 pandemic will bolster KVIC’s efforts of creating maximum employment for artisans and fulfil the dream of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” SAID KVIC Chairman Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena.
He also reiterated that amidst the ongoing lockdowns, KVIC faces the biggest challenge of sustaining the employment and livelihood of the artisans.
Therefore the bulk orders from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Indian Railways and Air India “have kept Khadi’s Charkha spinning which means employment and income for the spinners, weavers, allied workers and a huge workforce engaged in the village industries.”
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