BHOPAL: To promote Khadi, a eleven-day-long-exhibition-cum sale ‘Rashtriye Khadi Utsav 2017’ is underway at Bhopal Haat. It has been organised by MP Khadi and Gramudhyog Board. It began from January 6 and artisans from 10 states have showcased khadi, cotton, and woollen stuffs in the exhibition including jackets, kurtas, pyjamas, kurtis, suit, stoles, towels, running material et al. Khadi silk sari in various prints and designs are also on display, which are attracting women buyers. The range of Khadi stuffs starts from Rs 170 and goes up to Rs 8,000 and around 10 POS machine are available at 60 stalls. Talking to Free Press Journal, 70-year-old Ranjeet Daw from Beldanga Khadi Gramudhyog Samiti, West Bengal said “Pehle se kafi sudhar aaya hai. But compared to previous year the sale is 45 per cent. People are taking interest in wearing khadi,” adding that ” I’m associated with the work for the past 25 years and am participating in the fair for the past three years but this year the sale is not good due to currency ban. Most of people are making payments here by card, only 20 per cent in cash.”
“Pehle se kam hota jar aha hai. It think, it’s one of the reasons is lack of awareness and publicity. Had Modiji asked the government staff to wear khadi stuffs daily, things would have improved”.
Another reason may be that we sell pure Khadi on limited discount i.e. 30 per cent, fixed by Khadi commission,” says Mohammed Idrish, from Mithila Khadi Board Madhubani, Bihar who is in the business for the past 30 years. Nand Kumar Dewangan, from Gramin Vikas Pratishthan, Chhattisgarh says “The response of people towards Khadi stuffs is far better than earlier but the sale is very poor to demonetisation. Mostly I’m preferring payment in cash.”
“In comparison to previous year, the sale of Khadi products has gone up by around 70 percent. People now prefer to purchase khadi products and also know its positive aspects,” says Brij Kumar from Haryana.
Raees, from J&K says, “I think, the sale of Khadi stuffs is not so good . Common man doesn’t purchase khadi stuffs thinking it is costly.”
Leather jackets, namkeen at Khadi fair
Leather, jute and edible items are being sold in the ‘Khadi Expo’. Edible items are on display on around 10 stalls out of 60 in the Utsav. Various varieties of leather and jute products like shoes, bags belts, purses, wallets and carpets of Nagpur Maharashtra are on display whereas some edible items like honey of Chhattarpur, padapd, candy namkeen of Rajasthan are on display. Some bangles made of lakh, silk, crystal and beads are also showcased under the Khadi Utsav. On being asked about why non-Khadi products are being sold in Khadi Utsav, Ajeet Prajapati, manager of MP Khadi and Gramudhyog Board said, “See, the exhibition is being organised by MP Khadi and Gramudhyog Board. So, we are authorised to exhibit all items produced by cottage and village industries.” In a lighter vein he said, “Yes, we are not displayed intoxicants produced by cottage and village industries”.