Karnataka - Hubli   

Delegation of khadi workers leaves for New Delhi

By Our Special Correspondent

HUBLI, MARCH 18. Khadi workers in the State have decided to seek the intervention of the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the Congress President, Sonia Gandhi, for bailing them out from their present predicament.

A high-level delegation of khadi workers, led by B.S. Patil, Chairman, Karnataka Khadi Mattu Gramodyog Samyukta Sangha (KKGSS), and Patil Puttappa, Gandhian and social activist, left here for New Delhi on Friday in this connection.

Mr. Patil and Mr. Puttappa told The Hindu here that this was the first time that the matter was being taken up at this level. The trip was a result of the continued unsympathetic attitude of the Union and State Governments towards the khadi sector, which, if encouraged, could help tackle the problem of rural unemployment with minimum investment.

Mr. Patil, who heads a 50-year-old federation representing 55 khadi units in the State, said the sector was facing a resource crunch that was affecting production and sale of khadi.

The response of banks in funding khadi activities was lukewarm and khadi being a non-profit making activity hardly evinced any interest in them. The heavy interest rate on funds (working capital) had been eating into the vitals of the khadi movement, he said. Unless a funding agency was created to exclusively fund khadi activities, khadi hardly had any chance to survive. The challenges had grown with globalisation and privatisation, and with the VAT regime to be introduced soon, khadi units would be driven to desperation.

Mr. Patil said khadi activities would stand to benefit most through the rebate system rather than with the system of market development. The only correction to be made was to announce rebate for a five-year period and pay the rebate amount to the khadi units promptly. The State Government should also be directed to give matching assistance for the period instead of making annual announcements.

As it was an activity taken up on non-profit basis, the sector should be exempted from the purview of labour laws and the Factories Act, which would free the institutions from the harassment they were facing now.

Mr. Patil said it was unfortunate that an amendment to the Industrial Disputes Act made in 1982 under which khadi and village industries had been kept out of the purview of industries had not been given effect to for reasons not clear. Steps should be taken to curb the sale of uncertified khadi.

Mr. Patil said khadi should be declared as a "national cloth" and its use in the offices of the Union and State Governments should be made mandatory.

Mr. Patil said that the delegation would also meet the Minister for Railway, Lalu Prasad, on an announcement that the Railways would purchase khadi.

Mr. Puttappa said apart from pleading the case of khadi, he would also raise the issue of neglect of railway projects in the State.

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Delegation of khadi workers leaves for New Delhi

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