New Delhi, Oct 29 (PTI) Khadi has become a means oftransformation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today whilehighlighting that the sales of khadi products had recorded a90 per cent increase during this Diwali season.
In his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', he saidkhadi has transformed the lives of the poor and is emerging asa powerful means of empowering them.
The sale of khadi and handloom witnessed 90 per centincrease during this Diwali against the previous year'sfigure, the prime minister said.
He said that khadi sale at just one outlet in Delhi onthe last 'Dhanteras' festival on October 17 was a record Rs1.2 crore.
"Earlier, it was 'khadi for nation' and we talked about'khadi for fashion'. But lately we realised that 'khadi fortransformation' is taking the place of 'khadi for nation' and'khadi for fashion'," he said.
"The 'Mann Ki Baat' (programme) is praised and sometimesit is criticised. But when I see the impact of 'Mann Ki Baat',my belief becomes a conviction that the programme has forgedan unbreakable bonding with the people," Modi said.
He said that the sale of khadi and handloom also showsthe impact of "Mann Ki Baat", since he had been advocatingstrongly about it through the programme.
"During Diwali, khadi gift coupon sales recorded anoverwhelming 680 per cent rise. Compared to last year, thetotal sales of khadi and village industries products haverisen almost by 90 percent. One can clearly see that today,the youth, the elderly and women of every age group are takingto khadi," the prime minister said.
"Khadi and handloom have transformed the lives of thepoorest of the poor and are emerging as a powerful means ofempowering them. It is playing a very important role forgramodaya," he said.
Khadi and Village Industrict Commission (KVIC) ChairmanVinai Kumar Saxena, while expressing gratitude, said the primeminister has always some innovative ideas about khadi.
With the prime minister mentioning about the recordsales, it smashes the claims made by some people that thepurchasing power of people has gone down due to demonetizationand implementation of GST, he added.
Saxena, who recently completed two years of hischairmanship, said the prime minister's immense love for khadihas given a boost to the handlooom's popularity.
Minister of State for MSME (Independent Charge) GirirajSingh said the KVIC had done a commendable job in fulfillingModi's dream.
"I am sure that this bumper sale would silence thecritics of our government's economic policies," he said. PTIUK AKKAKK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.
