Khadi promotion needs to be synced with market needs and fashion trends: Akhilesh Yadav

Lucknow, May 27 (KNN) Khadi promotion needs to be synced with needs of the market and trends in the fashion world, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said underlining  the need of marketing and branding of the Khadi products as per contemporary needs and times.

He also suggested that a specialized institute should also be roped in for the same and called for more publicity for the Khadi brand. 

The Chief Minister said this on Thursday while launching of various developmental and public welfare schemes of the Khadi and Gramodyog department

He also called for assimilation of modern techniques and fashion trends to make Khadi more popular in the society, especially the youth.

Lauding the work done by NIFT Rae Bareli, he called for change as per needs of modern times. He also called for more such institutes like NIFT in the state and said that his government was more than willing to provide land for such institutes.

To promote Khadi, he added, many incentives had been given by the state government and provisions for the same have been made in the budget.

He also gave away modern spinning wheels to 25 women from Banda and 50 women from Jhansi district. He also directed officials of the department to provide 'charkhas' to poor people, the Chief Minister also detailed schemes like free laptops to meritorious students and Kanya Vidya Dhan scheme.

The minister for Khadi and Gramodyog Brahmashanker Tripathi said that use of modern technology will not only increase the quality of Khadi but would also bring it at par with other fabrics.

He also informed the gathering that through the Chief Minister  Gramodyog  Employment  Scheme,  the state government  had so far invested Rs 535 crore in 10,737 units and generated employment for 2,17,078 people.

He said that the rebate period has also been increased from 60 days to 108 days and against a twelve-year arrears against rebate of Rs 70.40 crore has been paid. At present, the initiatives rolled out by the state government, by payment of Rs 146.45 crore, 6.56 lakh weavers have been directly benefited.