SRIKAKULAM: Ponduru Khadi, known for its fine hand-spun fabric, is set for a major facelift as the Andhra Pradesh government prepares to establish a Khadi cluster at the Ponduru mandal headquarters in Srikakulam district. The proposed project, with an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore, aims to upgrade infrastructure and enhance the global brand value of Ponduru Khadi.
The cluster will include modern facilities such as design banks and advanced printing units to help artisans access international markets. Amadalavalasa MLA and Public Undertakings Committee (PUC) chairman Koona Ravi Kumar recently visited Ponduru and inspected the proposed site for the cluster.
Ponduru has a rich legacy in khadi production and is famous for its fine hand-spun fabric. More than 6,000 weavers in the district depend on khadi and handloom weaving and spinning for their livelihood. The village gained national attention during Mahatma Gandhi’s visit in 1917, when local weavers presented him with fine khadi cloth at Dusi junction.
Impressed by its quality, Gandhi later sent his elder son, Devadas Gandhi, to Ponduru in 1929 to study the spinning practices.
After his visit, Devadas Gandhi submitted a detailed report to Mahatma Gandhi, who wrote about Ponduru Khadi in Young India in 1931. This brought Ponduru Khadi into the national spotlight. In 1942, local spinners and weavers formed the Andhra Pattusali Khadi Karmikabhivrudhi Sangam (APKKS) under the All India Charkha Sangam. It was later renamed the Andhra Fine Khadi Karmikabhivrudhi Sangam (AFKKS) and affiliated to the Mumbai-based Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) in 1956.
Ponduru Cotton Sarees are among the most distinctive handloom products, renowned for their exceptional weaving, intricate designs, and high quality. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and former President Pratibha Patil were admirers of this khadi. “Ponduru Cotton Saree” won the second runner-up award in the One District One Product (ODOP) Awards-2023 from Srikakulam district. Ponduru Khadi also received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its unique craftsmanship and fine hand-spun khadi up to 100 count in December 2025.
The TDP-led NDA coalition government has renewed its focus on Ponduru Khadi with the aim of taking its historic legacy to international standards.
As part of this effort, the State government plans to set up a Khadi-Khaddar cluster unit with modern manufacturing technology, advanced artisan training programmes and global marketing facilities under one roof. Koona Ravi Kumar instructed district officials to expedite the process and take all necessary steps to establish the cluster at the earliest.
Speaking to TNIE, Koona Ravi Kumar said the coalition government was working to bring global recognition to Ponduru Khadi. He noted that the State had played a key role in securing the GI tag with the support of Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu. With the sanction of the Khadi-Khaddar cluster at an investment of around Rs 100 crore, the project is expected to transform the region and provide direct and indirect employment to thousands of local women, workers and youth.
He expressed hope that the cluster would give a fresh identity to Ponduru Khadi in international markets.