Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has launched an improved six and eight- spindle Charkha (spinning wheel) for coarse Khadi weaving.
The new Charkhas were unveiled by Union minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Giriraj Singh at Ahmedabad recently in presence of KVIC Chairman V K Saxena.
The coarse count six-spindle Charkha has been developed by Khadi Prayog Samiti (Ahmedabad), a KVIC unit established in 1958 for technical intervention in Khadi activities.
KVIC had given Rs 15 lakh to the Prayog Samiti in June for research and development in Charkha technology. The new Charkha would produce more coarse count Khadi (popularly known as Moti Khadi)) with less drudgery.
"At present, the coarse count Khadi thread is produced from traditional single-spindle Charkha, which can produce only four to five hanks per day, resulting into very meager income to the artisans.
"This new six and eight-spindle Charkha will produce at least 20 to 25 hanks per day, subsequently increasing the artisans' income substantially, i.e., Rs 200 and more per day," a release said.
It further said that it would also reduce the drudgeries significantly.
"After Independence for the first time, a new Charkha has been developed for the coarse count Khadi used to make towel, darees, napkin, carpets and other items," the press statement stated.
Hailing KVIC's efforts, Giriraj Singh said that the new Charkha has fulfilled the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi.
"It will certainly benefit the artisans and open new avenues in the development of Charkha," he added.
Echoing similar views, KVIC Chairman Saxena said that it "is historic day for Khadi as these new Charkhas are the result of motivation and comprehensive vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji."
"I hope that it will go a long way as it will bring happiness to more than two lakh artisans associated with Moti Khadi," he said.
Recently, KVIC also distributed 500 bee-boxes among 100 adivasi families in the Kumhera village of Arawali district in Gujarat.
The boxes were distributed by KVIC Chairman. These boxes were given to the tribal women, who have successfully completed their five-day-training in this connection.
The bee-keeping in the sleepy hamlet of Kumhera, which has an abundant flora and fauna, would create a positive impact through pollination on the yield of crops like cotton and maze grown by the adivasis there.
After distributing the bee-boxes, Saxena said that it was the mission of Prime Minister not only to double the income of farmers through bee-keeping, but to make them healthy also with the consumption of honey.
The Chairman also distributed 200 bottles of honey at the function among the 200 adivasi families present there.
Along with bee boxes, tools such as protection caps, hand-gloves and nets were also given free to the adivasi farmers.
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