Prasad: Govt firm on promoting khadi

UNION MINISTER for Small and Village Industries Mahavir Prasad claimed here that the UPA government was determined to increase the opportunities of employment by promoting small industries. While inaugurating a khadi exhibition at MP Inter College, Prasad said the government had decided to revive the khadi institutions to provide jobs to the dalits, women and former armymen.

UNION MINISTER for Small and Village Industries Mahavir Prasad claimed here that the UPA government was determined to increase the opportunities of employment by promoting small industries. While inaugurating a khadi exhibition at MP Inter College, Prasad said the government had decided to revive the khadi institutions to provide jobs to the dalits, women and former armymen.

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Prasad said that government had decided to bring a proposal to remove all hindrances in revival of khadi institutions and to generate healthy cooperation and coordination between the Khadi Board and small industries.

Talking to medipersons, he claimed that the union government was implementing the common minimum programme and had started various programmes for welfare of the minority community.

Prasad said that registration for khadi institution was suspended from 1998 but his government had decided to reopen the registration. The institution would provide loans to institutions and the operating authorities would invest 25 to 30 per cent from their side.

Admitting that khadi had taken a backseat in this era of nail- biting competition, Prasad said the government was determined to provide all assistance to save the traditional khadi which was the only means to check increasing unemployment. He further said that Khadi Gramodyog had been divided in six zones in UP to promote khadi. He said an office of khadi commissioner was opened in Gorakhpur and 10 districts of UP had been attached to this office. He repeatedly said that Gorakhpur was on top priority in establishing khadi institutions.