The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), operating under the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME), has revealed a wage increase for Khadi artisans nationwide. This announcement coincided with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and was made by KVIC chairman Manoj Kumar, who also introduced a special discount campaign.
The wage revisions include a 25 per cent increase for spinners working with the charkha and a 7 per cent hike for weavers using the loom. In his statement, Manoj Kumar noted, “The Khadi sector’s business exceeded US $ 11.9 billion in the last fiscal year, and to ensure that benefits reach Khadi artisans, KVIC has decided to raise wages.”
Currently, there are around 3,000 registered Khadi institutions in India employing nearly 4.98 lakh artisans, with approximately 80 per cent of them being women. The increased wages aim to empower these artisans economically.
In celebration of this initiative, KVIC has launched a discount campaign running from 2nd October to 30th November, available at locations nationwide, including the flagship Khadi showroom in Connaught Place, New Delhi.