Kolkata, Jan 31 (KNN) With an objective of creating a platform for artisans to market their products, the West Bengal Khadi and Village Industries Board (WBKVIB) has taken up a project to further develop cotton khadi.

At present, there is a huge demand for cotton khadi, both in domestic and international markets, mainly due to its eco-friendly nature.

Around 4,950 artisans will get the training and the project cost will be to the tune of Rs 16.52 crore.

These artisans are now mostly producing traditional items of white khadi and conventional items of cotton khadi.

The project will encompass 14 districts in the State.

The main objectives of the project, according to the CEO of WBKVIB, are to train the artisans in churning out products as per the present market demand (in terms of design), provide them with the infrastructure to achieve that and create a platform for marketing their products.

The 14 districts that have been earmarked for the project are Birbhum, Malda, Murshidabad, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, Nadia, Uttar Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur.

In West Bengal at present there are about 115 khadi institutions and societies working in the area of cotton khadi production.