On the occasion of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's birthday and completion of 100 days of Modi Government 3.0, Shri Manoj Kumar, Chairman, Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, gave a big gift to lakhs of Khadi artisans in a programme organized at Asmavati Riverfront in Porbandar, the birthplace of Poojya Bapu ji. An increase of 25 percent in the wages of spinners and 7 percent in the wages of weavers has been announced. The increased wages will be effective from 2nd October 2024 on birthday of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. On this occasion, a 26 feet long and 13 feet wide stainless steel 'Memorial Charkha' installed on the Asmavati Riverfront was also unveiled. During the programme, Chairman, KVIC distributed Margin Money subsidy of Rs. 101 crore into the accounts of 3911 beneficiaries under Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) and also inaugurated 1100 new PMEGP units through video conferencing.

Addressing the programme, Shri Manoj Kumar said that the wages of spinners and weavers has been increased for the second time during his tenure. From October 2^nd, 2024, spinners will get wages of Rs 12.50 per hank instead of Rs. 10. Earlier, on April 1^st, 2023, it was increased from Rs 7.50 to Rs 10 per hank. He further stated that the 'Khadi Kranti' under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has brought about a big change in the lives of spinners and weavers. The Khadi turnover has surpassed Rs1.55 lakh crore in the last financial year. In line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister's vision to extend benefits to Khadi family artisans, the Commission has decided to increase their wages. He mentioned that there are approximately 3,000 registered Khadi institutions across the country, through which 4.98 lakh Khadi artisans are employed, out of these about 80 percent are women. The increased wages will give them new economic strength. He further said that till now the wages has been increased by around 213 percent under the Modi government, which is a symbol of the fact that rural India is getting economically empowered through Khadi.

During the event, Chairman KVIC unveiled a commemorative charkha made of stainless steel at Asmavati Riverfront on the lines of the monumental charkha installed at Delhi International Airport. Earlier on 12 September, a similar charkha was unveiled at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. In his presidential address, Chairman KVIC Shri Manoj Kumar said that the objective of KVIC behind installing the memorial Charkha is to connect the new generation with the thoughts of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi as well as to make people aware about Khadi, the national heritage of India. He further stated that the 'New Khadi of New India' has given a new direction to the ' Aatmnirbhar Bharat and Vikasit Bharat Campaign'. This charkha, installed at the birthplace of Pujya Bapu, will serve as a reminder to the new generation of the legacy of the Father of the Nation.

During the programme, Margin Money (subsidy) worth Rs 101 crore was also distributed into the accounts of 3911 beneficiaries across the country under PMEGP. Through this, 43,021 new jobs have been created. Along with this, 1100 new PMEGP units established across the country were also inaugurated by the Chairman, Khadi and Village Industries Commission. Addressing the beneficiaries, Chairman KVIC Shri Manoj Kumar said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and guidance of the Ministry of MSME, PMEGP has emerged as a new energy and power for the cottage industry of the country. Through this, 83.48 lakh people have got employment through 9.58 lakh new projects in the last 10 years. During this period, KVIC has distributed Margin Money worth about Rs. 24 thousand crore. He further said that 10.17 lakh new jobs have been created in the last financial year through Khadi and Village Industries.
 

Representatives of Khadi institutions associated with the KVIC State Office in Gujarat, along with Khadi workers, artisans, and KVIC officers and employees, were present at the programme.

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