In a first of its kind attempt made to promote Khadi in Jharkhand, more than 40,000 students in government schools across the state will soon be provided uniforms made of Khadi designed and prepared by the Jharkhand Khadi and Village Industries Board (JKVIB) and Jharcraft, a Government of Jharkhand undertaking, formed to create new opportunities in rural areas with an objective to change lives throughout the state.
JKVIB Chairman Sanjay Seth said that they have already started working on it following the announcement by Chief Minister Raghubar Das that Khadi uniforms will be provided to the students as a part of a plan to provide a wide market of Khadi products in Jharkhand. Under the plan, JKVIB and Jharcraft will work jointly to enrol government schools with their respective boards for Khadi school uniforms and supply will be made accordingly to each of the school in a time-bound manner. "We have already started working in this direction where more than 40,000 students studying in Government schools will be provided Khadi uniforms prepared by the women, trained by the State Khadi Board, in order to provide a market to Khadi products," said Seth. It will also provide employment to the women who were trained by JKVIB, he added.
"Everything, right from weaving, processing and stitching will be done by the women trained by us," said the Chairman. It will also give a boost to Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of making each and every person self-sufficient, he added. Seth further added that around 1000 women are trained every year at the various training centers set up by JKVIB where they are also given a stipend of Rs 150 per day and a sewing machine worth Rs 20,000 just for Rs 5,000 as a gift so that they may start a business on their own, he added.
Though many of them get jobs in textile industries on the basis of training and certificates issued to them, there are many who are still not able to manage any employment due to family reasons, said the Chairman. "This project will provide an opportunity to those women for honing their skills by stitching uniforms for school students," said Seth. The objective is to provide a market for products prepared by such women, self-promotion and also to motivate them that can do anything in their lives, he added. "Considering engagement of women workforce in Khadi industry, this specific endeavour will not just give thrust to the cottage industry waiting for revival across the State but will also help in making Khadi as a household name," said Seth. The project will be started this year itself if things fall in place, he asserted.
