Khadi sales to cross Rs 5,000 crores by end 2017-18

Sales of khadi products in India are expected to surpass Rs 5,000 crores by the end of 2017-18. Overall sales of both khadi and village industries jumped over 14 per cent to Rs 37,935 crores in 2015-16. Sales of khadi goods shot up by about 29 per cent to Rs 1510 crores in 2015-16.

Since there is good demand in countries like the US and UK, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is setting up export cells to promote overseas sales of the products. Further, to improve quality and sales of products, KVIC is regularly organising training programs for spinners and weavers in areas like designing and marketing.

Khadi and village industries products are manufactured by about seven lakh privately-owned household units. These units are funded through schemes such as Prime Minister's Employment Generation Program. Khadi means handspun and handwoven cloth. It has transformed from being a symbol of India’s freedom struggle to become a style statement. It is seen as an eco-friendly, comfortable and vibrant fabric. Khadi is being explored as a commodity in the 21st century to give spinners and weavers a more organized source of livelihood. Consumption of hand-woven handspun cloth by urban people is seen as a way to establish a connect between urban and rural people.