Khadi biz hit hard during BJP rule in Gujarat

October has come to an end and the assembly elections are just round the corner. In this scenario one expects to witness a great boost in the sale of Khadi in Gujarat.

However, major khadi emporia say sales are dismal because of the difference in the discount rates with price hike. As if this was not enough, the election demand of Khadi has also not picked up yet. Some emporia even said the difference in discount rates came only after the Modi government came to power.

On the other hand, it seems Narendra Modi also has some positive effect on the sale of khadi. The sales of half sleeve kurta with Chinese collar, popularly called 'Modi Kurta,' has gone up manifold. The design is the trademark attire of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

"The sales of Khadi has gone down tremendously during the last six-seven years. It is because of the difference between the discount rates in Khadi. According to rule, we can only give a 20 per cent discount on Khadi brought from other states while we have to give q 30 per cent discount on the Khadi made in Gujarat. There is no difference in the quality of Khadi whether it is made in Gujarat or in other Indian states. It becomes hard to explain the disparity in the discounts to the consumer," lamented Naresh Borisa of Chandan Khadi Gramodyog Vikas Samiti, Ahmedabad.

Borisa also said the Congress government used to give a uniform 40 per cent discount on Khadi during the two months starting October 2, Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary.

"Earlier, we used to do a brisk business of Rs 60 lakh to Rs 70 lakh per annum. Now it is hard to even have a Rs 15-20 lakh business per annum."

The recent price hike in Khadi is now a hurdle to the October sales. "Recently, the Khadi Commission has increased the prices of Khadi by 20 per cent. This has affected the Khadi sales in a big way. The Khadi Commission's decision is based on the present cotton prices, production cost increase among others factors," Borisa said.

Shailendra Singh of Khadi Gramodyog Prayog Samiti, Gandhi Ashram, said, "Last year our sales stood at Rs 6 lakh in October when the Gandhi Jayanti rebate starts. However, this October's 10 per cent sale increase hardly matters as the prices of Khadi have gone up."

Dejected from the bleak October sales, these emporia are now pinning their hopes on the pre-poll Khadi shopping by party workers. "Our sales before elections increase around Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. However, this time the election demand of Khadi has not opened till now. No party worker has bought Khadi in bulk," Singh said and added politicians and party workers usually prefer 'Kalkatti Khadi' which is pure white.

Nagjibhai Desai of Gandhi Haat also said, "Till now no political party worker has visited our shop to buy Khadi. But the demand will rise."

Our shop is near Gandhi Ashram. Whenever, political functions are held in the ashram, we get a lot of buyers. But, till now no such functions have been organised yet except the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations," Naresh Borisa said.

On the other hand, a good demand for 'Modi Kurta' brings smiles to shopkeepers. "Half-sleeve Khadi kurtas with Chinese collar, a design made famous by Gujarat CM Narendra Modi, is in big demand, especially among youth," said Nagjibhai Desai.