The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Khadi board adopts new brand name

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 17, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Khadi board adopts new brand name

Nagesh Prabhu

17 khadi products to be marketed under the ‘Nisarga’ brand

Brand name adopted to check sale of spurious products
‘Khadi bhandars’ to be given new signboards

BANGALORE: Brighter days appear to be ahead for thousands of families dependent on production and sale of khadi products in the State, with the Karnataka Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) deciding to adopt all khadi products under a new brand name “Nisarga.”

The decision to adopt the new brand was taken with an objective to check rampant sale of spurious products, particularly clothes, in the name of original khadi by hundreds of merchants across the State. The new brand would be affixed on all its products produced by all those weavers and other small artisans receiving financial assistance from the board. All 300 khadi bhandars would be given the “Nisarga” signboards to distinguish them from other private textile shops, R. Rameshappa, Chief Executive Officer of KVIB, told The Hindu.

The board had submitted an application to the Government of India’s enterprise Trade Marks Regent, Chennai, seeking the brand under the Trade Marks Act, 1999. The board was expected to get the new brand in a few months after the Assistant Registrar of Trade Marks Regent heard its plea. The new brand would boost the sale of original khadi products, he said.

Mr. Rameshappa said the board had decided to seek the brand for 17 products such as textile articles, agarbhati, pharmaceuticals, leather products, rubber, boots, shoes, bakery items, malt, spices, matches, earthen wear and so on.

“The fabric still remains a tool of economic freedom and a means of livelihood with dignity for many, particularly in the rural areas.” Income of nearly 20,000 families depended on production of khadi yarn and other products in the State, he said.

The KVIB and the Khadi Village Industries Commission (KVIC) had been providing financial and marketing support to 160 institutions and societies. The annual turnover of these units was about Rs. 23 crore.

“We are making a small attempt to realise the dream of self-reliance envisaged by Mahatma Gandhi,” Mr. Rameshappa said.

The KIVB and KVIC were promoting the sale and marketing of khadi, products of village industries and handicrafts through its own marketing outlets.

To extend its reach, it had forged links with other agencies, wherever necessary and feasible. A national-level exhibition had been arranged in Bangalore in the first week of January, Mr. Rameshappa said.

All the 9,019 six-spindle charkas in use would be replaced by eight-spindle charkas in two years, in a phased manner for enhancing the productivity of weavers. He said the board had replaced 2,000 six-spindle charkas with eight-spindled ones a few months ago.

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