The Hindu : `State promoting khadi industry'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 18, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

`State promoting khadi industry'

By Our Staff Reporter

Visitors at one of the stalls at the Khadi Utsav organised by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission in Bangalore on Saturday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE, JAN. 17. The turnover in khadi and related products had crossed Rs. 10,193 crore, much more than the turnover of the marketing giant, Hindustan Lever Ltd., the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Industries, Sanga Priya Gautam, said here today.

Speaking at the inauguration of Khadi Utsav-2004, the national-level Khadi and Village Industries Commission exhibition at Fort High School Grounds, Mr. Gautam said this made the KVIC the "number one" commercial organisation in the country, which had also notched up a 14.39 per cent increase in exports from last year.

The Minister for Forests, K.H. Ranganath, who read out the speech of the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, said the State Government had disbursed Rs. 111.21 crore in loans and aid to 18,702 khadi and rural industries in the State. Apart from this, 2,456 units had received Rs. 118.88 crore through cooperative banks.

In 2003, Rs. 247.8 crore had been disbursed, and 10,775 jobs created in 708 units. Till date, 1.55 lakh jobs had been created in 21, 867 units, he said.

The special features of the Khadi Utsav, which is on till February 15, include stylish khadi wear, handicrafts and leather accessories, home products, and furniture.

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