Exhibition of Khadi products in Prayagraj during Maha Kumbh saw very good response and saw sales of ₹12.02 crore between 14 January to 27 February. The exhibition was organized by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) and saw 98 Khadi and 54 village industry stalls. The sales of Khadi products alone were ₹9.76 crore whereas village industries sold goods worth ₹2.26 crore. KVIC Chairman Manoj Kumar noted the event’s success, citing rising consumer demand and government assistance as reasons for the growing popularity of Khadi.
KVIC’s ‘Honey Mission’ Propels Growth in Beekeeping
Alongside the Khadi boom, KVIC is actively promoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘Sweet Revolution’ through the ‘Honey Mission.’ The initiative aims to empower rural beekeepers by providing essential resources. In a virtual ceremony from KVIC’s Rajghat office in Delhi, Kumar distributed 2,050 bee boxes, honeybee colonies, and toolkits to 205 beekeepers across six states.
PM Modi’s Call for ‘Sweet Revolution’
Kumar remembered PM Modi having, in 2016, highlighted the necessity of a ‘Sweet Revolution’ in addition to the ‘White Revolution’ while speaking at a function at Deesa in Gujarat. This vision prompted KVIC to start the Honey Mission in 2017, which has so far helped more than 20,000 people with two lakh bee boxes and colonies. The Prime Minister also marked the economic viability of beekeeping in the 75th edition of ‘Mann Ki Baat,’ adding that besides honey, bee wax is in huge demand in the pharmaceutical, food, textile, and cosmetics industries.
Rise of Khadi Sector in Last Ten Years
The Chairman of the KVIC also marked the outstanding rise of the Khadi sector in the last ten years. Khadi and village industry sales have increased five times from ₹31,000 crore to ₹1,55,000 crore. Sale of garments alone through Khadi has increased six times to ₹6,496 crore. Also, 10.17 lakh new employment opportunities were provided in the previous financial year with more than 80% of employment in the industry being female-dominated. The income level of Khadi artisans has also increased by 213% in the past decade, adding further impetus to rural livelihood.
A Self-Reliant Rural India
While Khadi becomes increasingly popular among market consumers and beekeeping provides new avenues of earning income, KVIC remains crucial to empowering rural craftsmen. As the government makes self-reliance mandatory, initiatives such as the Honey Mission and Khadi promotion are reshaping the economic scenario of Indian villages.
