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Khadi is a weapon for those with self-respect, says PM Modi
After his appeal to the people to purchase khadi items in 2015, there was over three-times growth in production and the sale of khadi clothes
India’s handloom industry, one of the key contributors in uplifting the poor, expanded from ₹30,000 crore to ₹1.3 lakh crore in the past nine years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday, urging people to adopt “swadeshi” (indigenous) products and emulate the resolve of the Quit India Movement in rejecting corruption, dynastic rule and appeasement politics.
Khadi is not just a piece of cloth but also a weapon for those with self-respect, those who are proud of the nation, and who dream of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), the PM said at the ninth National Handloom Day at Bharat Mandapam, two days ahead of the anniversary of the Quit India Movement that took place in 1942.
Referring to August 7 as “Swadeshi” movement day, Modi said “a day after today is the 9th August, which witnessed the biggest movement of India’s fight for Independence.”
“On August 9 [1942], under the leadership of Respected Bapu, Quit India Movement was launched, asking the British to vacate the country, and it became a nationwide awakening, forcing the English people to leave India. Today, this is the demand of the time to inspire citizens to exhibit the same will power and use the same mantra to force unwarranted elements to leave the country as they are the obstacles in realising the dream of a developed Bharat,” Modi said.
“Some evils block our way in achieving this resolve. That is why, Bharat today, in one voice, tells these evils ‘Quit India’ … today Bharat says corruption, quit India… dynasty, quit India… appeasement, quit India… These menaces in India are big threats to the nation… Big challenge to the country,” he said.
Speaking about the need to revive the domestic textile sector, he said, “Friends, it was unfortunate that the textile industry, which was so strong in past decades, did not get adequate attention to remain robust. The condition was such that khadi was left on the verge of death. People looked down upon those who put on khadi clothes. After 2014, our government is making endeavours to change this thinking.”
After his appeal to the people to purchase khadi items in 2015, there was over three-times growth in production and the sale of khadi clothes surged by over five times, with growing demand in both domestic and overseas markets, the PM said. “Friends, nine years ago, sale of khadi was around ₹25,000- ₹30,000 crore, today it has surpassed ₹1.3 lakh crore,” he added.
This additional ₹1 lakh crore that came in the sector in the last nine years benefited the poor, the handloom weavers in villages, and tribal people, he said. “And today, when the Niti Aayog says that in the last five years about 13.5 crore [135 million] people have come out of poverty, the contribution of this [promotion of handloom] is also acknowledged,” he added.
Repeating his call to go “vocal for local” to promote the handloom sector, he said the slogan has become a mass movement. He asked the Indian industry to promote local supply chains instead of importing finished products from overseas.
