Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah Friday appealed to the people to buy khadi products worth at least Rs 5,000 every year so that India moves towards 'atmanirbharta'. "I understand some people have problems. But can't we have a pillow cover of khadi, can't we have a khadi towel, can't we have a mattress cover made of khadi and can't we have a nightdress of khadi” Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken about a very big campaign — 'Khadi Apnano, Swadeshi Apnao' — and we are confident that the country will become 'atmanirbhar' with this," Shah said. Shah was addressing the 'Khadi Karigar Mahotsav' at Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak. He said Mahatma Gandhi's work on khadi revioltionised the lives of lakhs of weavers in the country. and gave momentum to the freedom movement. But once country gained Independence, the Congress, he the party ruled for many decades, forgot about khadi and did nothing for its promotion. Modi, as Gujarat chief minister had resolved to revive khadi, he said. As OM, Modi, through his 'Mann Ki Baat' , gave the message to the citizens to use khadi. “As a result, Khadi and Village Industries Commission's (KVIC's) turnover increased from Rs 33,000 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 1.70 lakh crore now. The entire turnover of khadi is utilised in providing employment to weavers and the women of the country, he said. "When we wear khadi. we do not wear just a cloth, but we adopt and embrace the spirit of swadeshi and atmanirbharta," he said. Tool kits, including power-operated charkhas, traditional spinning wheels, sewing machines and leather repairing kits, were distributed to over 2,200 artisans during the Mahotsav. Rs 301 crore as margin money under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) was also distributed at the event attended by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.
