Karnataka   

A khadi unit on its last legs

A view of the Mysore Charaka Prachar Sangha in Chitradurga.

Old and dilapidated walls and defunct machines with a handful of people to operate them: this is the condition of the over 50-year-old Mysore Charaka Prachar Sangha at Madakari Pura, about 3 km from Chitradurga city. It was a small industry set up in 1942 to promote khadi and other such domestic products. Started by a freedom fighter S. Vasudev Rao, the industry was set up to provide employment to rural people by producing only Swadeshi products. Spinning and weaving of kh adi clothes were being taken up in the industry, besides the manufacture of soaps and detergent. The industry used to provide employment to over 200 rural people whose livelihood depended only on this industry. But owing to disputes, financial problems and improper management, over a period of time the industry ran into losses. The industry began losing the workers as they found neither work nor wages. “Till 1985, the industry worked well but after the death of Mr. Vasudev Rao, trouble began. In the absence of responsible management, the production began to decline, resulting in losses”, said former secretary of the sangha, M.H. Shiva-murthy Gowda. He said that somehow the dwindling industry functioned till 1997. The machines began rusting as there were no workers to operate them. At present, there are only five workers left who are weaving and spinning. They are working because either they have no other work or are too attached to the industry to leave. “Earlier, we were paid around Rs. 2,500 a month, but since the last three years we have not received salary,” said 56-year-old B. Nagaraj, who joined the industry when he was a child. Recalling the past, he said that the industry was exporting the khadi products to States such as Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. It even sent its products to Kolkata. Training sessions were conducted. “There was a time when the industry earned Rs. 1 lakh per week by exporting material,” he said. Mr. Gowda said that the industry could be revived if the Government offers financial assistance. “We can re-use the machines and provide employment to many villagers if we get financial aid,” he said.

Firoz Rozindar in Chitradurga

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