New Delhi, Mar 26 (KNN) Eyeing at developing a corpus for the economically backward artisanal families, the Khaki and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have raised over Rs 20 lakhs in last 10 months, an official release informed.

“For every entry ticket to National Charkha Museum, New Delhi, a Khadi Soot Mala is given free. The 20 rupees entry fee provides support to artisanal families besides the women inmates of Tihar Jail who make the khadi soot mala”, the release said.

The commission is to turn the corpus secured from the sale of these tickets into a Trust for the welfare of economically backward artisanal families. From May 21, 2017 till January 31, 2018, the ticket sales have fetched over Rs. 20 lakhs.

The Khadi Soot mala is made of wasted material drawn from KVIC's Central Sliver Plant at Hazipur, Patna and the final product is being made by women in Delhi and other parts of the country.

Commenting over the initiative, KVIC Chairman VK Saxena said that the socio-economic perspective behind this soot malas where it has brought about positive changes in the lives of artisans and have provided direct employment to 45 women.

The Charkha Museum depicts the history and evolution of Charkha, from a humble instrument to a symbol of Nationalism, freedom movement, and empowerment of the individual citizen by weaving Swadeshi cloth.

The Museum showcases 14 vintage Charkha models and demonstrates the journey from "kapaas" to yarn to khadi cloth. The Museum also showcases the charkha used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ludhiana where he distributed 500 charkhas to the women of Punjab in 2016.

National Museum of Charkha was inaugurated in May 2017. This Museum is a window to the great heritage of Indian Charkha, embodying the philosophy of self-reliance. NDMC in collaboration with Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has installed a 26-feet-long (about 8 meters) Charkha, the release informed. (With PIB Inputs) (KNN/DA)