Gaining new promoters, the fabric mostly associated with politicians, has gained acceptance among health workers due to its low carbon footprint.
Doctors, nurses, medical and paramedical students are switching to overcoats manufactured by the Kerala Khadi and Village Industries Board.
The board was highly encouraged when a circular was issued by the director of medical education, to principals of all government dental, medical, and nursing colleges urging them to buy its overcoats.
The move has been implemented by Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha medical colleges along with several district and taluk hospitals. The initiative also got a huge boost when there was a positive response from newly-admitted students of various medical, dental and paramedical colleges who then incorporated the overcoats in their official attire.
“Khadi is the ideal fabric for Kerala’s changing weather,” said vice-chairman of the board P Jayarajan.
The board has taken several steps to modernise the board and improve the quality of its products Jayarajan further said.
“We have also diversified our production and sales and introduced more cottage industry products. The board has entered into an understanding with various departments too to promote khadi,” he added.
Khadi sales were further promoted by the state government which relaxed the store purchase manual, enabling government and public sector institutions to buy products from the board.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has also been signed between the board and the Kerala prisons and correctional services department, which will allow for the training of jail inmates in readymade garment production, apiculture, weaving and spinning, and other village industries, the products of which will be sold via khadi board outlets.
