The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Modern charkas to hike production

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 10, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Modern charkas to hike production

Nagesh Prabhu

The board has replaced 2,000
charkas so far

Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

In vogue: Khadi garments generate interest at the ‘Khadi Utsav’ in Bangalore on Sunday.

BANGALORE: Brighter days appear to be ahead for over 10,000 families dependent on production of khadi yarn through conventional charkas in the State, with government agencies proposing to offer newly designed charkas at subsidised prices.

Cloths made of khadi yarn, which once symbolised politicians, are being embraced by the younger generation today. Khadi clothes not only make a style statement, but have also been found convenient to wear.

Charka – the spinning wheel – symbolises India’s freedom struggle and self-reliance. The artisans producing khadi yarn were using the six-spindle charkas that produced seven metric yards of khadi in eight hours. With the agencies deciding to offer eight-spindle charkas, the production is bound to increase up to 15 metric yards in the same time frame. Not only does the revenue of those dependent on charkas double, but the quantum of khadi in the market will also increase.

The Karnataka Khadi Village Industries Board (KVIB) has taken up this mission of enhancing the productivity of weavers. All the 9,019 six-spindle charkas in use will be replaced by eight-spindle charkas in two years, in a phased manner. While the Karnataka Industries Department has released Rs. 1.61 crore towards this venture, the central Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has been asked to pool in Rs. 81.25 lakh.

Towards self reliance

“We are making a small attempt to realise the dream of self reliance envisaged by the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi,” said R. Rameshappa, Chief Executive Officer, KVIB. He said the board had replaced 2,000 six-spindle charkas with eight-spindled ones a few months ago.

Of the 9,019 six-spindle charkas, 3,019 are with societies and institutions promoted by KVIB and 6,000 are with KVIC. The KVIB and the KVIC have been providing financial and marketing support to 160 institutions and societies. The annual turnover of these units is about Rs. 23 crore. The institutions and societies who got the eight-spindle charkas have given a positive feed back. “With new charkas, the artisans will be able to earn wages of Rs. 70 a day against Rs. 25 in six-spindle charkas,” Mr. Rameshappa said. A minimum payment of Rs. 70 is essential to retain the weavers in the sector as otherwise there is every possibility of the artisans moving away from the sector.

Each eight-spindle charka costs Rs. 6,000. With the increased demand for new charkas, the board has prepared a proposal to place an order of 5,000 charkas from Ambar Utpadana and Research Centre, Gondal, Rajkot district in Gujarat. The board and the beneficiary will share the cost of the charka on a 75: 25 basis.

A few days ago, the KVIB placed a demand for funds before the KVIC at a meeting held in New Delhi. The commission has agreed to bear 25 per cent cost of the charkas.

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