|
 |
Seeds sown by Gandhiji in the form of Charkha has taken the shape of a Mammoth tree in the form of Khadi & V.I. Commission and Khadi & V.I. Board which is playing a pioneering role in rural employment generation.
With fast increasing unemployment and underemployment, basic objective of Khadi continues to be valid and relevant in the present context too. Committees after committees. have affirmed this view, the Committee constituted by the Ministry of Small Scale Industries and Agro & Rural Industries, Govt. of India under the Chairmanship of Shri K.C. Pant, the then Hon’ble Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission suggested measures for strengthening KVI sector. This Committee has acknowledged unequivocally the vast potential of KVI sector. This Committee has acknowledged unequivocally the vast potential of KVI Sector to generate new jobs in rural areas at low investments per job at the door step, which is need of the hour.
The Committee recommended that khadi being national pride and a symbol of India’s freedom struggle be declared as a ‘Heritage Product’. No doubt, khadi deserves this. But more than the, sentimental value attached to it, khadi’s justification must be sought on the khadi’s justification must be sought on the basis of hard facts of modern Indian economic conditions, especially the need to fight the twin demons, severe unemployment and acute poverty in rural areas. Khadi can be described as a universal industry, which can be stated easily in most areas of our country with modest organizational set up and comparatively short gestation period. It fulfils one of the three basic needs of mankind i.e. cloth with wide participation of local people. Being an important non farm economic activity, significantly diversify and strengthens the rural economy, which is urgently required. The present UPA Government has also included this khadi sector under the Common Minimum Programme to explore its vast potentiality and relevancy of the day.
|
| Khadi Programme In West Bengal |
Gandhiji came to Bengal and was pleased to find Bengal’s advancement in Charkha and Khadi in course of his travel over Bengal. Gandhi traveled a vast area e.g. Chandpur, Chattagram, Mahajanhat, Nokhali, Kumilla, Dacca and many other places and inspirit the khadi workers. We may recall that once these regions produced superfine cloths. Everyone known about muslin produced at Dacca. In some places of West Bengal lying at the remote part of West India Spinning on Charkha was still pursued without interruption through the centuries. Gandhiji’s mission gave new impetus to the spinners and weavers. About this time Shri Satis Das Gupta, under the guidance of Acharya P.C. Roy founded Khadi institution at Sodepur in the vicinity of Calcutta and the renounced physician Shri Suresh Chandra Bandhyopadhyaya and Dr. Prafulla Chandra Ghosh founded Abhoy Ashram at Kumilla, the latter name being given by Gandhiji himself. These to institutions were the major khadi institutions of Bengal. Soon followed other institutions. Khadi Mandal by the physician Dr. Asutosh Das, Pradulla Chandra Sen and Panchanan Basu, Khadi Mandir by Charu Chandra Bhandari; Vidyashrama by Dhirendra Nath Das Gupta; Shilprasanna by Hema Chandra Khasnabis. These institutions began producing and selling khadi, in 1930 Gandhiji himself inaugurated the Suddha Khadi Bhander at Harrison Road, Calcutta.
To the legacy of the Khadi movement in Bengal it has established its status under Khadi programme for its unique art and craftsmanship. The climatic condition and abundant local resources have widened the scope of the development of Khadi prgramme in the State. The districts of Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia, Birbhum, Bankura, Hooghly, Purulia, have the extensive coverage of the Khadi programmes, especially for silk Khadi, Spun Silk Khadi & Muslin Khadi. Mulberry cocoon cultivation in the districts of Malda, Murshidabad and parts of Birbhum had been increased adequately and as a result of which, silk reeling and weaving unit have been concentrated in those localities. Further, a good number of sillked artisans are also available in those areas. As such, the scope of silk Khadi activities in those areas have been expended considerably. Jiaganj, Raghunathganj, Piarapur, Gonkar (Mirjapur) area of Murshidabad districts is famous for the Garad varieties, Silk kora than for Printed sarees, produced at Chak Islampore and Dangapara is famour for its weaving, fine Spun Silk activities have been expended in Chak, Islampore while the Bishnupur in Bankura district is famous for the exclusive Baluachari desing, besides Mulberry Silk, Matka Silk Tassar Silk are produced in good quality and in huge quantity also. In production of Silk Khadi the state contributes 36.37% of total silk Khadi production in KVI sector and ranks in 1st position in overall performance under Office of the Commissioner of Khadi and Village Industry. Another prestigious product of Bengal is Muslin Khadi. The glorious art of Bengal have regained its status under the patronage of Khadi & V.I. Commission. Muslin Khadi has reached to its fineness to the extent of 500 metric count and there is no Competitor of this industry. The main characteristic of this industry is maximum employment of women artisans. Around 8,000 women artisans in the state are engaged in this industry. Muslin Khadi Industry have grown up in the districts of Murshidabad, Nadia, Burdwan. In production of Muslin Khadi the state ranks top contributing its shared 55.25% the total production of Muslin Khadi in KVI sector.
|
|
