Gujarat to help kite industry post seven-fold growth

The government will co-operate and lend its full support to the kite manufacturers in the state in a bid to transform the Rs 100 crore kite industry into a Rs 700 crore industry in the next five years by framing a comprehensive policy for economic development of craftsmen, said chief minister Narendra Modi.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the 'Gujarat Patang Udyog Karyashibir', a workshop organised by the state government in association with the Swadeshi Academic Council (SAC), Chennai, at Gandhi Labour Institute in Ahmedabad.

The aim of the workshop was to give a fillip to the Rs 100 crore kite manufacturing industry, which still is an unorganised sector.

"The government now wants to put the industry on a firm footing and transform it into an organised business and plans to come out with a policy soon for the economic development of the craftsmen, including the kite makers," said the chief minister.

He instructed the National Institute of Design to help the craftsmen in designing the kite and spindles so as to make Gujarat an international market for kites.

The aim of the workshop is to act as forum for generating innovative and creative ideas and to facilitate interaction between manufacturers, craftsmen, wholesalers, non-governmental organisations, designers and financial institutions.

Skye Morrison, international folklorist, designer and kite maker from Canada, said "The kite manufacturing industry in Gujarat is unorganised. Still Gujarat has the largest per capita of kite flyers in the world. The industry needs to be organised and developed as a cluster based industry."

Qari Mohammed Mian Mazhari, chairman, National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC), government of India, said, "Although the kite manufacturing industry of the state is worth Rs 100 crore, most of the kite makers live below the poverty line and the NMDFC will help the kite makes to avail of finance for manufacturing kites at the cheapest interest rates."

The workshop provided an opportunity for all the manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers to exchange views, share experiences and propel the kite industry to newer heights.

The Swadeshi Academic Council (SAC) presented an analysis of the survey of the kite industry in the state.

The survey was carried out by three leading consultancy agencies "" Gujarat Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation, A C Neilsen-ORG Centre for Social Research and Institute of Environment and Social Development.

The survey revealed that over 70 per cent of the workforce engaged in the kite making are women and in Ahmedabad alone, the market size of kite making is estimated to be Rs 12 crore, while the annual profit made by the kite manufacturers from kite business is less than Rs 50,000 per annum.

SAC has advised the government to work out agenda for the kite festival and kite trade in two stages.

The concept paper submitted to the government deals with the kite festival and the kite industry in respect of the first stage that would be done before the coming kite festival in January 2004.