Jharkhand khadi board to set up parks to promote products

To promote its handloom products, the Jharkhand State Khadi and Village Industries Board has initiated steps to set up khadi parks where all manufacturing activities will take place under one roof.

The board has a plan to establish six khadi parks in Jharkhand alone to promote khadi products as well as to generate employment, Jainandu, chairman of the board, said.

The aim was to develop it as an integrated park wherein all activities ranging from raw material processing, washing and dyeing, designing, cutting and stitching to branding and packaging for khadi garments would be undertaken.

Already construction work has started for one such park at Kharswan in adjoining Seraikela-Kharswan district, which is scheduled to be inaugurated on the birth anniversary of Mahatama Gandhi on October 2, according to Jainandu.  Jainandu said that they also have a plan to set up similar khadi parks in Tilaiya (Koderma), Hazaribagh, Daltongunj (Palamau), Rajnagar (Seraikela-Kharswan) in phases.

The under-construction facility at Kharswan will also have an outlet to sell khadi apparels produced in the park, he said adding they have a plan to develop it as 'Gandhi Ashram', where a 'Gandhi Museum' would also exist.  Initially, the park would start functioning over an area of 2000 sq ft, which would be extended to 10,000 sq. ft area soon, he said.

Jainandu claimed that Jharkhand Khadi Board was the only board in the country to meet 100 per cent target in generating employment under Central Government-sponsored Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme.

The board has generated 50,000 employment in the financial year 2013-14 and funded around Rs 300 crore in the form of government grant and bank loans among the rural masses to involve them in Khandi industry, the Chairman said.

Keeping in view the increasing demand for Khadi products, he said the board has procured modern equipment for designing and providing training among the villagers.

"We are producing garments for men, women and kids including some under the brand name of 'Johar' which are in great demand in the country," he said adding they are now focusing on proper packaging to enhance customer base.