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Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi vision of ‘Naye Bharat ki Nayi Khadi,’ a grand inauguration of the state-level PMEGP (Prime Minister Employment Generation Program) exhibition took place at PWD Ground, New Sanghvi, Pune. The event was graced by Manoj Kumar, Chairman of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Ministry of MSME, along with MLA Shri Shankar Bhau Jagtap. More than 60 Khadi and Village Industries units participated in the exhibition, which will continue until March 2, 2025.
As part of the event, 674 equipment were distributed to 470 artisans under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana. The distributed tools included 300 electric potter’s wheels, 300 bee boxes, waste wood craft toolkits, dona pattal-making machines, leather manufacturing machines, and electrician toolkits. These were given to artisans from Pune, Jalgaon, Dhule, Nanded, Ahmednagar, and Solapur districts. Earlier, on February 10, 2025, a similar initiative in Bhandara district of Vidarbha saw the distribution of 584 toolkits to 314 artisans.
During the event, MLAs Shri Shankar Jagtap and Smt. Uma Girish Khapre appreciated the quality of Khadi and Village Industries products and lauded KVIC's efforts in providing training and modern tools to rural artisans.
Historic Growth in Khadi Sector
KVIC Chairman Shri Manoj Kumar highlighted the significant growth in the Khadi sector over the past decade. He stated that Khadi and Village Industries product sales have increased fivefold, from ₹31,000 crore to ₹1,55,000 crore, while Khadi fabric sales alone have surged six times, from ₹1,081 crore to ₹6,496 crore. Additionally, in the last financial year, over 10.17 lakh new employment opportunities were created.
"Income of Khadi artisans has grown by 213% in the last 10 years. Today, Khadi is not just a fabric but has become the identity of India,” said Shri Manoj Kumar. He also emphasized the 80% contribution of women in the Khadi sector.
Maharashtra Growing Khadi Ecosystem
The KVIC Chairman revealed that 3,19,014 people in Maharashtra are employed through 34 Khadi institutions, 38,694 PMEGP units, and 13 SFURTI clusters. Under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana, 3,280 electric wheels and 6,800 bee boxes have been distributed in the state so far.
Khadi institutions and entrepreneurs from Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Telangana, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, and Karnataka are actively participating in the exhibition.
Showcasing Khadi on the Global Stage
The exhibition features 100% indigenous and eco-friendly products, with live demonstrations of manufacturing processes for visitors. A special Khadi fashion show was also organized to present modern and innovative designs, aiming to establish Khadi on a global platform.
The event was attended by representatives of Khadi institutions, Gramodyog Vikas Yojana beneficiaries, Khadi workers, as well as officials from the Maharashtra government and KVIC.
